Read the latest information on
Foot-and-mouth disease
Goat owners will be aware of the impending changes for traceability that commence on 1 January 2025, with individual animal identification being introduced (except in Victoria, where it has been in place since 2017). More information on this can be found on the Sheep and Goat Traceability Task Force webpage, and through Department of Primary Industries and Agriculture websites.
In addition to these upcoming changes to the goat traceability system, there have been two other recent biosecurity tool revamps. The National Goat Health Declaration (NGHD) has been reviewed for the first time in eight years, and an updated caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) module in the Market Assurance Program for Goats (GoatMAP) has also been released.
The NGHD has been updated based on feedback from industry and government. It now better reflects its integration with the National Vendor Declaration (NVD), especially through the electronic NVD (eNVD) app. It also aligns with the Sheep and Cattle Health Declarations featuring a slightly different format, with two biosecurity-related questions, followed by questions on important diseases for goat owners to consider when buying or agisting goats, and finally a section for treatments that the consigned animals have received. With the inclusion of CAE in GoatMAP, there is a for recording this information. The NGHD is available to download from the Farm Biosecurity website as a fillable form or one that can be printed and filled in. It will soon be available in the eNVD app as well.
It is nearly 12 months since the new CAEMAP module was launched. Having been trialled over that period, it is timely to update it based on feedback received from industry and government stakeholders. The testing requirements of the program have been made clearer, and the introduction section revised to align with the other modules, making it more practical for participants. GoatMAP information, including the revised CAEMAP module, can be found on the GoatMAP webpage. For those wanting to find a herd participating in GoatMAP, there is also a link to the searchable database.
