The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is encouraging Western NSW cattle farmers to report any unusual deaths or health concerns within their herd, following a number of unexplained deaths.

DPI Senior Veterinary Officer, Graham Bailey, said a small number of producers in Western NSW have reported unusual deaths in cattle of all ages.

Mr Bailey said affected animals experience drooling and diarrhoea before death.

“Combined losses across all affected properties are likely to be in the hundreds with the highest mortality occurring in calves,” Mr Bailey said.

“To date, laboratory tests have ruled out a number of potential diseases and further field investigation and testing is continuing.

“It is vital that farmers report any unusual deaths of their animals to their private or Local Land Service veterinarian, so that we can determine the extent of the problem and help identify factors which may be involved.”

Mr Bailey said experts are working closely with the affected landholders to investigate the cause of the deaths.

“A team, involving field veterinarians (DPI and private), an epidemiologist, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute diagnostic pathologists and virologists and staff from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong are working on the investigations,” Mr Bailey said.

“We are currently developing a questionnaire which will provide more informationabout the extent of the disease and help us to systematically analyse the risk factors and identify the cause of the deaths.”

Source: NSW DPI. To view a fact sheet relating to Cattle Deaths with Drooling and Diarrhoea (3D) Syndrome click here