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Indonesia pauses some Australian cattle imports after cows found with LSD
LSD, which causes blisters and reduces milk production, is a highly infectious viral disease affecting cattle and buffalo that is transmitted by insect bites, but does not pose a risk to humans.
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ndonesia had paused live cattle imports from four Australian facilities after lumpy skin disease (LSD) was detected in a small number of cattle sometime after their arrival, the Australian government said.
Australian officials were working with Indonesia to reassure market participants that all animals exported from Australia complied with Indonesian requirements, including being free of LSD, agriculture minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Sunday.
Rapid diagnostic testing of cattle had begun to help restore exports from the impacted facilities, he said.
LSD, which causes blisters and reduces milk production, is a highly infectious viral disease affecting cattle and buffalo that is transmitted by insect bites, but does not pose a risk to humans.
Australia was free of LSD and cattle exports to Indonesia were continuing from other facilities, Watt said.
Given the presence of LSD in Indonesia, positive results in cattle after reaching Indonesia were not unexpected, Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp said.
LSD was first reported in livestock in Indonesia early last year.
Indonesia is the largest market for Australian live cattle exports, accounting for around 56 percent in 2021-22, data showed, worth around A$900 million (US$600 million). It is a trade that Australia’s north heavily relies on.
Australia did not specify the number of shipments that would be impacted by Indonesia’s decision.
ABC reported that LSD detection in Australia would “bring exports of cattle industries to a halt and trade access would need to be renegotiated with all importing countries”.
It is estimated that a widespread outbreak would wipe more than $7 billion from the farm sector in its first year.
John McKillop from the Red Meat Advisory Council said he was confident that Australia was free from LSD.
“The robust systems that Australia has for the ongoing monitoring of our animal disease status supports us to trade around the world,” McKillop said, as quoted by ABC.
“We respect the right of Indonesia’s technical authorities to seek relevant assurances that live cattle exported from Australia comply with their animal health requirements. This includes being free of LSD.”
