TBA: farms must remain vigilant to keep industry going through pandemic
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has urged stud farms and industry participants to be vigilant and have strict Covid-safe protocols in place to ensure the sector is allowed to operate without government intervention as the pandemic encroaches on a second breeding season in a row.
Yesterday, the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian ordered eight local government areas in the Newcastle and Upper Hunter regions into a snap seven-day lockdown from 5pm after an outbreak of Covid in the area in a stark reminder the thoroughbred breeding heartland was not immune to the impact of the virus.
The locked down regions include Newcastle and Maitland but also Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook, which join Greater Sydney, an area that has been under heavy restrictions since June 26.
The Hunter region restrictions are similar to the week-long Orange lockdown which took place last month. The seven-day Upper Hunter lockdown will be in place until at least midnight on August 12.
The Victorian government late yesterday also instigated another week-long statewide lockdown which came into effect from 8pm while 11 local government areas in Brisbane are also presently in lockdown.
TBA chief executive Tom Reilly last night wrote to breeders assuring them that the organisation was continuing to engage all levels of government about the industry’s ability to mitigate the risk of infection while continuing throughout the breeding season.
“I want to make clear that all governments regard breeding activities as part of the agriculture sector, and therefore an essential industry,” Reilly wrote.
“However, in order to undertake your business there may be protocols that you and your employees need to observe.”
Reilly reiterated to breeders that now was not the time for complacency, citing the NSW government’s decision to shut down the construction industry for two weeks with little notice.
“It is worth everyone in the breeding industry really being aware that the Delta strain and the transmissibility of it has caused a shift in government thinking and that is not just NSW, but every state government’s tolerance for risk is a lot less. It just gets out so much quicker,” Reilly later told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“Even if you are on a farm in an area that hasn’t seen a case, you need to think about having the right protocols in place because governments will be quicker to lockdown than they were previously.”
Studs were reminded to have Covid Safe plans in place, QR code check-ins for staff and visitors and to separate staff as much as possible in an attempt to decrease the likelihood of staff being ordered into isolation if an outbreak of the virus did occur on farm.
“For the bigger farms, that is really thinking about how you segregate your workforce, putting that into action and ensuring that staff follow that and are not socialising together outside work hours,” Reilly said.
“There’s no point keeping people segregated in the workforce and then not doing that (off site).”
While TBA has provided members with Covid compliance information and templates, breeders were also encouraged to keep up to date with their respective state government Covid advice and restrictions.
“Yes, it’s a bit more admin, but with the way the variant is, it is really important that those farms put those (Covid safe) practises in place and dot their Is and cross their Ts because if there is an outbreak, that is what protects them,” the TBA boss said.
“As we proved last year, if everyone does the right things and takes it seriously, then there is no reason why we can’t go through this season without major issue.”
One repercussion of the pandemic on breeders in 2020 was that permits were required and strict protocols had to be followed for mares to be floated between states but Reilly said equine transport companies were well placed to comply with government orders that will be in place this year.
TBA has also reached an in-principle agreement with the NSW, Victorian and Queensland governments to allow farm-owned trucks or vehicles to be used to transport mares across borders but the details are yet to be signed off.
However, it is expected to be formalised as soon as next week.
“I am also conscious that many breeders in NSW will be concerned with moving stock between areas that have restrictions, especially with many parts of the Hunter being placed into lockdown (yesterday),” Reilly said.
“Since the Hunter lockdown was announced, TBA has been in contact with the NSW state government to explain the needs of the breeding industry.”
TBA recommends drivers moving stock into lockdown areas carry a farm Covid Safe plan and a freight and transport equivalent.
Reilly wrote: “From our conversations with all state governments – and the experience of 2020 – we are confident that drivers or staff moving stock inside state borders will meet all relevant protocols if they have these documents in their possession.”
TBA Covid compliance protocols
COVID-19 Industry Guidelines
COVID-19 Safe Plan Template For Farms
COVID-19 Safety Plan Template For Freight And Transport