Late last year, dozens of cattle became sick and died on properties from Hay to Broken Hill, and producers and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) were at a loss to explain the cause.
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Terry Huntly, “Barwonnie”, Mossgiel, lost 66 head of cattle on his property and said he was relieved the deaths had stopped, but still wanted answers about what was causing them.
“When it rained in March that pretty much brought a stop to it,” he said.
“There haven’t been any answers yet... the DPI haven’t come up with much at all.”
With previous outbreaks of the mysterious sickness affecting cattle in western NSW in 2006 and 2009, Mr Huntly said it was important to find out what was behind it, so producers could better prepare and save their livestock.
DPI senior veterinary officer, Graham Bailey, said the affected cattle all had key signs of drooling and diarrhoea leading up to death.
The condition has become known as 3D syndrome.
“To date, laboratory tests have ruled out a number of potential diseases and we will continue further field investigation to determine any possible links between properties or seasonal conditions,” Mr Bailey said.
“Similar cases were first reported in 2006, and again in 2009 and we have again seen a spike in mortalities occur late last year.”
In an effort to unravel the mystery, Western and Riverina Local Land Services (LLS) and the DPI will post a survey to cattle producers in parts of the Western and Riverina LLS regions to gather more information.
Western LLS director Ben Barlow said it was crucial farmers complete the short survey detailing any unusual cattle deaths on their properties.
“Late last year, about six producers in western NSW experienced unexplained deaths among cattle of all ages,” Mr Barlow said.
“We will be issuing a survey to farmers in and around the affected area that will ask simple questions about their herd history, types and ages of cattle and any illness or death of the animals.
“Western LLS is currently working very closely with the affected farmers, with a team of experts including vets, epidemiologists and research scientists all committed to determining a cause.”
All survey replies will be treated confidentially.
“While graziers have reported that deaths due to 3D syndrome had ceased, we remain committed to determining the cause of these deaths,” Mr Barlow said.
“Once the survey data is analysed, a proportion of farmers will receive a more detailed survey that seeks to determine risk factors that could provide crucial links that lead to the cause.”
Visit the DPI for more information.
