REDUCING COST IMPACTS OF THE CATTLE TICK INSPECTION FEES
Ross
Hielscher
Acting General Manager
Animal Health
Animal and Plant Health Service
DPI
This article explains some procedures which dairy farmers may apply to lower the impact of the newly introduced cattle tick inspection fees.
As of 1 August 2002, DPI introduced the cattle tick inspection fees based on a weekday hourly rate - $28/hour initially expanding to $84/hour by July 2004 which will be charged in 15 minute increments. These rates are for livestock cleared at the tick line. The new fee structure also includes a $168/hour rate for out of hours (including weekends) service. The overall departmental strategy behind the introduction of inspection fees is to reduce the subsidy in cattle tick control and channel more resources into the major biosecurity areas of preparedness and prevention of foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease. These two diseases would seriously impact on all livestock producers and rural communities.
So how can the impact of the fees be reduced for livestock producers especially those with small numbers of livestock per consignment?
There is fee splitting built into the charging process. If service can be arranged at booking time for a number of owners to have livestock inspected in a set time band, the hourly fee can be split or shared amongst the owners. For weekday service the minimum fee for any one invoice or billing will be 15 minutes (or $7.00).
Also there is ‘consignment management’ built in. By this it is meant that if an individual (or agency) takes on the management of consignments of multiple owners and becomes responsible for the payment to DPI, then only one fee for the inspection time will be charged. For example, a livestock agency can organise a group of producers (say five) who have 5 head each to be treated and inspected, in one half hour block. The bill for inspection charged to the agency, would be $14.00 for the 25 head. Under these arrangements, DPI would invoice the agency and it would be up to the agency to collect the costs as it saw fit. It need not be an agency as local producers may arrange similar groupings provided there is a ‘consignment manager’ who accepts the payment for the group.
Another aspect being worked on right now is the presale curfew inspections often required on weekends. The weekend fee for the existing free service is being waived until 1 October 2002 while DPI sets up systems with local saleyards and agencies, which will assist reduce the costs.
Centralised inspection centres, like Harristown saleyards, are likely to operate in a narrow band on Sunday afternoons which will allow fee splitting (as described previously) over a large group of owners. Also DPI is looking at providing this arranged service on the lower weekday rate as it is considered in the best interest of DPI to have this work centralised. The final details of these arrangements are still being worked on but expected to be in place before 1 October.
For more information about service arrangements, contact your local DPI stock inspector, our website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au or through the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23.
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It's the one mastitis-causing bacteria that can be eradicated from dairy herds, she said.
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COUNTDOWN DOWNUNDER
Countdown Downunder, provides
monthly bulletins to keep you up to date with the latest in Animal Health
issues:
The March edition has information about:
New ABV's for cell count
Teat Disinfection
Advisor Short Courses
To read the March edition, click here:
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