Newly renegotiated amendments to health protocols are expected to save as much as $130 to $150 per head in testing and quarantine requirements on breeding cattle exported from Australia to Indonesia.

The health protocols were renegotiated with the aim of allowing more efficient preparation of animals for export, while ensuring the certification and biosecurity needs of both Australia and Indonesia are met.

The new protocols are set to lead to increased exports of breeding cattle and buffalo from Australia to Indonesia.

The key amendments to the protocols, which will apply to both the existing productive heifer and new productive (breeding) buffalo protocols, were:

• Reducing the pre-export isolation period from 14 to 7 days;
• Removing and/or reducing testing requirements and parasite treatments; and
• All pre export vaccinations to occur within 30 days of export.

Amendments to the productive heifer (breeding cattle) protocol are expected to remove between $130 and $150 in testing/quarantine requirements per head for exports.

This will mean the costs of quarantine will be halved.

It also means Indonesians will be able to buy animals at a more affordable price.

Trade authorities say that despite the savings the new protocols still meet all biosecurity requirements for Indonesia and Australia.

Before these changes were negotiated, the cost of importing breeding heifers for Indonesians prior was almost a barrier, with only the Indonesian Government being able to afford to purchase breeding heifers.

The previous protocols also meant it was difficult to find animals to comply with the protocols because of the timing of tests and treatments.

Under the new protocols these issues have been removed, subsequently opening up the opportunity for more livestock to be eligible.

The successful negotiations are a result of departmental officials being able to successfully leverage Australia’s globally recognised health status and well established disease monitoring and surveillance systems.

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council welcomed the announcement of a more realistic protocols for productive heifers and the establishment of a protocol for buffalo.

The council also acknowledged the work done by Livecorp and the department in progressing the new health protocols.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, who recently visited Indonesia, said cattle exports were a valuable trade that delivered benefits to the economies of both nations.

“This agreement will help build Indonesian productive herds into the future as well as boost farmgate returns for Australian farmers.

“While our well-established trade of feeder and slaughter cattle with Indonesia helps meet the immediate need for food and protein, sending our high-quality breeder stock will help boost Indonesian herds and genetic variability, in turn strengthening trade between our nations.

“Australian beef cattle producers have a vital role to play in assisting Indonesia to achieve food security as suppliers of high-quality cattle in the years ahead.”

According to Meat & Livestock Australia data,  Australia exported 10,133 beef breeding cattle in 2014-15, worth $25 million.