Pests

Do you have any uninvited guests?

Native wild animals, birds, feral animals and pests are recognised as a major way that disease can enter farms. Many wild and feral birds and animals can catch the same diseases as farmed livestock. They may also carry disease organisms without actually contracting the disease themselves.

Reduce the risk

Pests and your livestock

Pests in your state or territory

How can pest species affect your livestock?

• Wild animals can mix with your stock and introduce disease
  Wild birds may have the disease themselves, or may be carrying the disease organisms.
• Faeces from pest species can contaminate water/feed supplies
  Contaminants can be passed to your livestock in their drinking water and feed.

Check: The risks vary between livestock species, farming systems and pest species. What are the disease risks to your livestock? Can they be passed on by pests, feral animals or wild birds? Can these pests get access to you livestock?

Reduce the risk

The appropriate farm biosecurity approach to protecting your livestock by managing pests, native and feral animals on your farm will depend on the specific species that are a problem in your area. The impact they may have will vary depending on your livestock species and whether your animals are housed or not.

Develop a pest and feral animal control program - this will need to be specific to your location. The best pest and feral animal control programs recognise that problems extend beyond your fences, so you will be more successful if you work with your neighbours to control feral animals.

Wild animals can mix with your stock and introduce disease

• Boundary fences can help keep some pest species out
• Consider the reasons wild birds and animals would visit your farm, and look at ways to discourage them - minimise things that could attract feral animals such as rubbish dumps and stock feed waste
• Dispose of livestock carcases properly, as carcases will attract feral animals
• Prevent pests from getting into feed stores by keeping buildings in good repair
• This could include keeping doors and windows shut if there is no need for ventilation; netting windows, baffles and drains; and having an active rodent control system
• Design and maintain sheds so that wild birds and animals cannot get in

Faeces from pest species can contaminate water/feed

• Regularly clean out water and feed troughs
• Consider using treated water or town water
• Be aware that dams will attract wild birds and animals, and where possible, implement measures to minimise access
• Remove and dispose of contaminated feed

Don't forget to inspect your stock regularly to look for any sign of health problems.

Pests and your livestock

The pest species that can bring disease to your livestock depend on which industry you are in, and the farming system that you use.

Your industry has developed management practices and farm biosecurity tools that will suit your farming practices and address the specific pests and diseases that may cause problems for your livestock.

These pages will give you more information on farm biosecurity specific to your livestock industry.

Alpacas	Beef cattle - extensive
Beef cattle - feedlot	Chickens - for eggs
Chickens- for meat	Dairy Cattle
Goats	Honey Bees
Horses	Pigs
Sheep

Pests in your state or territory

These pages will give you more information on farm biosecurity specific to your state or territory.

Australia	Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales	Northern Territory
Queensland	South Australia
Tasmania	Victoria
Western Australia

If you spot unexpected or unusual signs of disease, abnormal behaviour or unexpected deaths in your animals, act immediately. Call your veterinarian, local government animal health authority or the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.