Disease surveillance and subsidies
Disease surveillance benefits the livestock industry by:
- providing laboratory data to prove animal-disease-freedom
- enabling us to trade in livestock and livestock products internationally
- assisting in early detection of notifiable and emergency animal diseases.
The data from these investigations is stored and analysed by Biosecurity SA veterinarians to track and monitor disease trends.
Livestock Disease Surveillance Program
The Livestock Disease Surveillance Program contracts private rural practitioners to investigate animal disease incidents. This includes collecting laboratory samples, which are sent to the state veterinary laboratory, Gribbles VETLAB.
Subsidies towards laboratory fees or veterinary time may be available where an infectious agent is a potential cause. Veterinarians must follow program guidelines, correct procedures, and the below steps to be eligible.
Supporting documents
Read the disease investigation subsidies guidelines (), including invoicing standards and checklists.
Use these documents as required to claim a subsidy:
Base level investigation subsidies
Base level investigation subsidies
Eligible cases receive up to a $700 subsidy for investigation of herd or flock issues:
- with a potential infectious cause
- without any suspicion of an exotic or unusual disease.
All reasonable laboratory costs will be paid by PIRSA. No prior approval or invoices are required.
Exclusions include:
- PCR tests for endemic diseases
- endemic or nutritional diseases without a possible infectious differential
- mineral, hormone, water feed and plant testing
- funding for mileage, veterinary fees, drugs or other treatments.
Submit a subsidy claim
- Read the above guidelines and note page 17.
- Notify a PIRSA veterinarian.
- Complete the Gribbles laboratory request form and submit it with your samples.
Significant disease investigation subsidies
Significant disease investigation subsidies
Eligible cases may receive a subsidy for investigation of herd or flock issues:
- with significant morbidity, mortality, or rate of spread
- where initial diagnostics and treatment fail to produce expected response (revisit required)
- with only a low suspicion of an exotic disease, if any.
Depending on the investigation, you can receive:
- a subsidy for all reasonable laboratory testing – no invoice required
- between $225 to $600 subsidy towards veterinary fees (consultation or post-mortem).
Submit a subsidy claim
- Confirm prior approval of eligibility from a PIRSA veterinarian.
- Prepare all information about the case per the above guidelines before starting the online form, as it could time out.
- Submit your significant disease investigation claim form.
- If your clinic is not listed on the form, please contact your local PIRSA veterinary officer to be added.
All claims are verified against records in our database for rule-out of notifiable disease.
Emergency animal disease investigation
Emergency animal disease investigation
For cases where there is high suspicion of an exotic or unusual disease in herds, flocks, or individual animals, all reasonable costs of the investigation will be paid by PIRSA. This includes:
- laboratory testing
- veterinary fees
- travel.
Submit a subsidy claim
- Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline immediately.
- Read the above guidelines and note page 18.
- Confirm prior approval of eligibility from a PIRSA veterinarian.
- Send an invoice to PIRSA, adhering to the correct standards for payments to be processed.
- Complete the Gribbles laboratory request form and submit it with your samples.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Program
Veterinary and producer incentives are available for sample testing of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).
This applies to cases of individual sheep or cattle with progressive neurological signs that meet specific criteria. No prior approval for sample submission is required for eligible cases.
Learn about the TSE Program.