![Cattle are dying of a mysterious disease in western NSW Cattle are dying of a mysterious disease in western NSW](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2057014.jpg/r0_0_1024_683_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THE mystery disease killing cattle in western NSW is ripping the hearts out of producers, leaving them with hard choices about selling off surviving stock.
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Terry Huntly, “Barwonnie”, Mossgiel, said until the cause of the disease was found, producers were left “wondering what is killing our cattle”, and having to decide between the risk of holding on to stock until the disease passed, or selling before they are also stricken with the mystery illness.
Mr Huntly said he had lost 50 cattle from the end of October through to the end of January – he also lost 44 in a previous outbreak in 2009.
“It has knocked the guts out of this lot (of cattle),” he said.
He said he had been on the land at Mossgiel all his life, and this problem had never arisen before the first outbreak in 2006, a second in 2009, and now this one.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) senior veterinary officer Graham Bailey said extensive testing since 2006 had not uncovered the cause.
“All the tests for viruses have come back negative,” Mr Bailey said.
Other tests for bacteria have returned more questions than answers.
“We have picked up some bacteria in some tests – some samples have shown E. Coli, but other samples have been negative (for E. Coli).”
Mr Bailey said the outbreak covered a very large area, with one report being investigated at a property north of Broken Hill, and others from near Hay.
The area near Mossgiel was the most affected in this latest outbreak, as was the case in 2006 and 2009, he said.
Mr Bailey said even though the outbreak was across a large area, producers should not panic.
“(The disease) can affect cattle in one paddock but not touch other cattle on the other side of the fence – it’s not easily spread,” he said.
There was no reason at this stage for the DPI to consider quarantining any properties, he said.
The DPI is investigating the chance the cattle have eaten a toxin.
“The department is committed to resourcing the investigation to get to the bottom of this,” he said.
Mr Huntly said he didn’t believe the cattle were infected by anything in their feed.
“There is nothing different year in, year out, in their feed,” he said.
Hay Veterinary Clinic vet Wayne Gardam said he had looked at several properties with possible incidences of the mystery disease, but only one near Oxley matched the mystery disease symptoms.
“Not everything that has killed a cow in the past six months has been this (disease),” he said.
Mr Gardam said this producer lost about 40 calves in only four days late last year and it appeared the outbreak was more widespread this time, with the 2006 and 2009 outbreaks restricted to an area near Mossgiel.
Mr Bailey said it was important for all producers in western NSW to be aware of the issue and keep an eye on stock for warning signs, such as noisy breathing, drooling, and diarrhoea.
Mr Huntly encouraged producers in the Mossgiel area to attend a meeting at the Mossgiel Hall on Friday, February 14, where landholders, vets and the DPI would discuss the problem.
Contact Terry Huntly 0427 954 820 for meeting details or visit The Department of Primary Industries for details on the disease.