VFF Livestock Group restructure

After consultation with the membership the Livestock Group ratified the VFF Livestock Group Restructure Proposal. This restructure streamlined existing boundaries and areas of responsibility and where possible and feasible the new borders sought to follow municipal lines, thus enabling the membership to have an easy shorthand method of determining the region in which they fall.

The regions and representation are outlined in the following paper and map.

VFF Livestock Regional Representation Structure (47kb)

The VFF Livestock Group
The VFF Livestock Group is the peak representative body for livestock producers in Victoria, operating in its present form since 1978. The Group currently represents the interests of approximately 2500 farm businesses, most of which are family owned and operated.

Membership is state-wide and covers the key Victorian agricultural industries of cattle, sheepmeat, wool and goats. Together these industries' output is valued at around $2.5 billion for Victoria's rural economies each year.

Victoria is currently home to 16 percent of Australia's cattle herd, 20 percent of the Australian sheep flock and about a quarter of the Australian goat population. With one quarter of the nation's farm businesses Victorian, VFF Livestock plays an influential role in determining the priorities and direction of this major Australian industry.

The VFF Livestock Group's core business involves policy development, issues management and advocacy on behalf of our producer members to industry and government. Through the extensive branch network and district council representative structure, VFF Livestock has good coverage of the state livestock issues.

Member's views and issues are also pursued at a national level through VFF Livestock's membership of the Livestock Peak Industry Councils - Sheepmeat Council of Australia (SCA), WoolProducers Australia (WPA), Cattle Council Australia (CCA) and Goat Industry Council Australia (GICA).

Over the past twelve months the group has dealt with a number of livestock sector issues both new and ongoing. These include changes in animal welfare legislation, mulesing, changes to beef importation regulations, changes in the livestock market players, and the productivity commission of Research and Development Corporations.

Listed below are a few of the issues the Group has been working on over the past 12 months;

• The VFF Livestock Group remains committed to maintaining Biosecurity against exotic diseases however we feel strongly that so called endemic diseases are being overlooked and underestimated by both farmers and government alike;
• NLIS: The Victorian cattle tags remain cheapest in Australia at $1.20;
• Representing VFF Livestock Group members interests in the development of the new National Industry Codes of Practice and the Victorian Governments “Livestock Management Act”, the legislation that will see the industry ‘codes' effectively setting the standards for animal welfare;
• Successfully continued legal proceedings in the Hahnheuser case to ensure that the Australian farmers can go about their business without fear of environmental activist damaging businesses and using the trade practices act as a defence;
• Continued to fight for and support the Live Export industry (worth approximately $1.8 billion to the Australian economy);
• Continued to work with and influence the grower owned research and development companies, Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation;
• With the lamb industry being worth around 1 billion dollars to Victoria annually the VFF Livestock Group considers it a priority to ensure that processes are in place to protect the integrity of lamb as a product; and
• Involved in the development of the National Wool Declaration to assist buyers in identifying wool that has a low risk of dark fibre, chemical residues or is from sheep that have not been mulesed.

The Group also plays an important role on a national level through its affiliations to the National Peak Commodity Councils. These Councils include: Cattle Council of Australia, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, WoolProducers and the Goat Industry Council of Australia. Our voting power with each of these bodies ensures that member concerns are represented at a national level and Victorian interests are well understood across the country.



Looking Forward

For the coming 12 months the VFF Livestock Group will maintain a focus on the current policy issues as well as being prepared for any new and emerging issues. One key area of work for the Group will be contributing to the Sheep and Cattle Industry Codes. These will have play an important role in not only setting the regulations in relation to animal husbandry, but also in demonstrating to customers both domestic and international that Australian animal welfare procedures area world's best practice as we have always stated.

In addition there is also a clear direction from the VFF Livestock Council that there needs to be continued work on improving representation of and communication with VFF Livestock Group members. This will involve changes that should see the Livestock Group well positioned to continue to be the voice of all Victorian livestock producers long into the future.

The VFF Livestock Groups makes sure your voice counts on the issues that matter to you.



VFF Livestock staff:


Darren Keating - Manager


Charlotte Fox - Project Officer


Zoe Moroz - Project Officer



Livestock Group President


Ian Feldtmann - VFF Livestock President



Livestock Group Structure

President:	Ian Feldtmann
Vice President:	Michael Craig

Regional Councillors

Mallee:	Leonard Vallance
Wimmera:	Robert Harding
Glenelg:	Kate Joseph
North Central:	Chris Wallace Smith
Corangamite:	Geoff Fisken
Broken Goulburn:	Ian Feldtmann
North East:	Michael McCormack
East Gippsland:	Steven Harrison
West Gippsland:	Barb Stewart
Additional Councillor:	James Kirkpatrick

VFF Livestock Regional Councillors



Livestock Issues

Time to Have Your Say on National OJD Management

WoolProducers Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia have released a discussion paper based on an extensive review of the Ovine Johnes Disease Management Plan 2007-2012. This discussion includes four possible options designated for future management of OJD, and an online survey where producers can select their preferred option. Producers are strongly encouraged to have their say. Please read this document, and for further information please contact the VFF livestock group on 1300 882 833 and ask for Darren or Charlotte.

For more information, see the below document:

Time to Have Your Say on National OJD Management (453kb)

Submission to Inquiry into Improvements in Animal Welfare for Australian Live Export Markets

The Livestock Group has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Improvements in Animal Welfare for Australian Live Export Markets. In summary the VFF Livestock group is a strong supporter of Australia’s Live Export industry due to both the employment opportunities and market competition for sheep and cattle that it provides to the Victorian Livestock sector. We believe that through Meat and Livestock Australia’s work Australian livestock producers have made significant contributions to animal welfare worldwide, and that these improvements are not limited to Australian livestock.

Our submission can be downloaded from the link below:

Submission to Inquiry into Improvements in Animal Welfare for Australian Live Export Markets (b)

Livestock farmers warned of reproductive losses caused by wild dogs

The Victorian Farmers Federation’s (VFF) Livestock Group has called for livestock producers to become more proactive in diagnosing the cause of calving losses, as diseases borne from wild dogs continue to wreak havoc across the state’s cattle herd.

While injury and deaths caused by wild dogs hunting livestock can have a significant negative impact on primary production, another problem was their potential to pass parasites on to cattle herds that can dramatically reduce calving percentages.

For more information, see the below document:

Neospora information (425kb)

Market Security

As the livestock industries are heavily reliant on export markets it is important to ensure their long term viability through meeting customers' needs. To do this the Livestock group ensures;

• That the National Livestock Identification System meets the needs of Victorian livestock producers and overseas customers.
• That the structures are in place to ensure the Biosecurity of Victorias livestock sector and the ability to demonstrate this to customers.
• We have an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) response plan that is current and relevant.

Biosecurity

The single largest threat to Victorian Livestock Producers is an exotic animal disease (EAD) outbreak. The impact of such outbreaks can be clearly demonstrated by looking at recent Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in the UK and closer to home the Equine Influenza outbreak in 2007. Ensuring that at a state and national level, we have a robust Biosecurity Strategy is one of the best ways to prevent this from happening.

The VFF Livestock Group plays a key role in ensuring the Biosecurity Stategy remains robust by continually lobbying government to ensure they have adequate resources to respond to outbreaks, taking part in EAD preparedness activities, and in the event of an outbreak playing a coordinating role in communicating between industry and government.



Industry Codes of Practice

There are numerous Codes of Practice that cover the farming of livestock in Australia. As farming practices and consumer expectations change so to do the Codes of Practice.

The most recently completed Code of Practice review was the Land Standards Transport Code of Practice. At present a number of Codes of Practice are under development or review including the Intensive Sheep Finishing Systems Code of Practice, the Sheep Welfare Code of Practice and the Cattle Welfare Code of Practice.

As these codes provide the backbone of state legislation it is important to for livestock producers to be represented in their development and review. The VFF Livestock group represents its members interests by working on theses codes both directly and through our peak council membership.



Media

The Livestock Group have been getting some positive media in reponse to their Farm Business Security Forums being held around the state.

See some examples below.

Hamilton Spectator March (2920kb)

Hamilton Spectator April (3913kb)