Horses and Bushfires fact sheet

DPI Horse Notes - June 2010

Click here for the latest edition of DPI Horse Notes.

In this issue

1. Hendra Virus - the facts

2. Back to Basics - horse biosecurity

3. Horse Owners need PICs

4. The Geriatric Horse

5. Equine Influenza

6. Dealing with another horse disease emergency

PICS now required for horse properties

HORSE OWNERS NEED PICs
by Dr John Harkin, Animal Standards Branch, Biosecurity Victoria.

No, a PIC is not a tool for digging holes.  PIC stands for Property Identification Code. Under Victorian legislation, all livestock owners are required to have a PIC. The PIC data (stored on a database) provides DPI (Department of Primary Industries) with up to date knowledge of Victoria's livestock populations and contact details for livestock owners, which proves invaluable in responding to emergency animal disease (EAD) events and assists with emergencies such as bushfires. Following the equine influenza outbreak, it was agreed that Victorian horse owners would be well served by being incorporated into the PIC system. This idea had gained strong industry support, which was further bolstered by the Black Saturday bushfire event.

Having PICs for horses is an issue that has also been pursued at national level, and it has now been agreed that all horse owners throughout Australia should have PICs allocated to their horse-bearing properties.

As from 1 July 2010, it will be compulsory for all Victorian horse owners to have a PIC identifying the properties where they keep their horses. Applying for a PIC is free of charge. An application form can be downloaded from the web, or mailed to you (ring 1800 678 779), or obtained from any DPI office - simply complete it and send it to DPI.

You will need to supply on your application your name, address and other contact details, and also the council property number or rates assessment number of the property at which the horse is to be kept (found on the rates assessment notice from the local council).

You must indicate on the form both that the property is used for horses, by ticking under "Horses" in the "Livestock Type"box, and entering the number of horses on the property. In the case of properties where horses are kept occasionally (e.g. showgrounds or pony clubs), simply indicate on the form (by a tick) that horses are kept there from time to time, but enter "0"(zero) for the number at present.

Applicants will subsequently be sent a credit-card style card which details their PIC.

Certain scenarios arise with the requirement to have a PIC that may pose practical difficulties, given the difference between livestock production enterprises for which the system was primarily developed and what are most often companion animals. Additionally, unlike production livestock, no tracking of movement of horses between properties is envisaged.

1. Existing properties with PICs and horses. Already, the owners of thousands of properties with PICs have indicated that they have horses. There is no need for properties that have an existing PIC to apply for another. If you are not sure, call the DPI Helpline on 1800 678 779 - if there is already a PIC, you can advise that horses are running on it.
2. Agistment on one property of multiple horses with different owners. It will be sufficient for the owner of the agistment property to apply and hold a PIC, although the owners of the agisted horses will need to satisfy themselves of this. It will soon be possible for PIC holders to view a list of Victorian PICs online, which will facilitate this process.
3. Race courses and training stables. Provided that each course and stable is covered by a PIC, which could involve a listing of all relevant council property numbers on one application, the obligation will be deemed to have met. Alternatively, individual training stables and the course could have a separate PIC if desired.
4. Geographically separate parcels of land owned by one person. A person may apply for one PIC to cover all of the blocks that they own and run horses on. There is no need to apply separately for each block, as long as they are in the same locality. To provide DPI with the most up to date information about the location in Victoria, and their numbers, horse owners need to regularly supply DPI with updates about their numbers and any changes to the parcels of land to which the PIC applies.

Further information can be obtained from the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) Helpline on 1800 678 779.