Animal Health & Husbandry
1 May, 2026
Stay alert and aware for signs of disease
VICTORIA is fortunate to be free of most of the serious diseases that affect animals in other parts of the world.
Despite this, continuous surveillance is crucial to enable early detection of animal diseases that could affect trade, regional or national productivity, animal welfare, public health, or biodiversity.
According to senior veterinary officer, Dr Jeff Cave, the Victorian Significant Disease Investigation (SDI) Program aims to improve Victoria’s ability to identify significant diseases in livestock and wildlife by boosting veterinary practitioner involvement and subsidising investigation costs.
Subsidies are available from Agriculture Victoria for the initial field investigation, including clinical and post-mortem evaluation, laboratory testing, and a follow-up investigation of significant disease events in livestock and wildlife.
Livestock includes ruminants, horses, pigs, and poultry.
A disease is considered significant when one when one or more of the following apply:
it shows an unusual or atypical manifestation, including high morbidity, mortality, or rate of spread;
an initial investigation does not establish a diagnosis, or veterinary treatment does not lead to the expected response;
there are findings indicating a possible impact on trade, public health, biodiversity, or the viability of a farm, industry, or region, excluding cases where there is a genuine suspicion of an emergency animal disease.
When there is a genuine suspicion of an exotic or emergency disease, Agriculture Victoria may carry out the investigation and bear the full cost.
The SDI program will increase the likelihood of detecting a serious animal disease if one occurs and will help cover the costs for farmers to investigate and report a disease outbreak.
Payment of subsidies is conditional on approval from Agriculture Victoria.
“Early detection of new or exotic diseases relies on farmers, vets, and the government working together,” Dr Cave said.
“Producers and animal owners should contact their vet when an unusual disease appears in their stock.
“Veterinary practitioners must stay alert and consider the possibility of new, unusual, or exotic diseases.”
Unusual disease cases should be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate samples should be sent to veterinary labs.
Early detection of emerging or exotic diseases is the key to their effective management.
“If you suspect an exotic or emergency disease, please contact your local veterinarian, or Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer, or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”