Understanding disease surveillance in cattle in northern Australia

We understand that the northern Australian cattle production system is unique. This presents special challenges (and opportunities) for detecting diseases. But how likely is it that we would detect a serious disease outbreak? And how does that likelihood change between the wet season and the dry season?

As producers either breeding cattle in northern Australia or receiving northern Australian cattle (e.g. for backgrounding) you are an important part of Australia’s general surveillance system for northern cattle

Ausvet would like to invite managers/head stockmen from northern Australia, or producers receiving cattle from northern Australia, to participate in a survey focused on understanding how diseases are observed and reported in extensively managed cattle. Your valuable insights are vital to help protect our industries from serious diseases.

We are looking for experienced owners, managers or stockmen who are familiar with general station operations and management statistics for the station (e.g. number of head of cattle). We invite you to complete an online survey (mostly pictures). This should take approximately 10-15 minutes. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, with only summarised data being published.

If you breed/produce extensively managed cattle in northern Queensland, please complete this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QF2NP7N

If you breed/produce extensively managed cattle in the NT or northern WA, please complete this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2NJVG2T

If you background cattle from northern Australia, please complete this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R5FCT2L

Please complete the survey by the 28 September 2025. For more information, the full participant information sheet is available here. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the survey, please get in touch with Robyn Hall (robyn.hall@ausvet.com.au) or Isabel MacPhillamy (isabel.macphillamy@ausvet.com.au). Thank you for continuing to safeguard Australia’s northern cattle industry.