AVA Conference Melbourne 2017

The presentation looks at how urban livestock are exposed to risks, their purpose, sources of data, and nature of risks presented to the national livestock populations. Disease and welfare risk mitigation differ from rural methods and special ethical issues are involved. Risks and means of mitigating them are addressed through the following considerations listed below. Parameters • Species • Numbers • What records are kept • Council rules • Waste disposal Hobby holdings (“farms”) Schools TAFEs Pets Holders access to information and advice • Departments of Agriculture / Primary Industries • Veterinary practitioners • Teachers • Social media / internet • Industry participation links to mainstream industry • Property identification codes • Livestock Biosecurity Network • Advocacy Sources of animals Nature and source of risks • Animal diseases • Zoonoses • Public health (waste and nuisance management/ food safety issues) • Animal movements • Farm biosecurity Ethical issues • Animal Welfare • Suitability of holdings / premises / standard of husbandry / nutrition • Human ethics and cultural elements and exposure of community to farm animals and sources of food (urban and rural divide) • Animal Ethics Committees/ Welfare of the animals • Human ethics and access issues / cultural sensitivity • Mechanism for Learning Risk Mitigation • Training / awareness access to advice and industry information • “farm” biosecurity • Reporting • Records of animals held • Inspections by authorities • Treatment of waste and food • Limitation as to numbers and species • Containment • Availability of guidelines • Access to Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN)