Iglesias R M, East I J
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, GPO Box 858, Canberra, 2600, Australia.
Aust Vet J. 2015 Nov;93(11):394-403. doi: 10.1111/avj.12377.
To identify patterns of cattle movement that could influence disease spread in the Australian cattle population.
Records from the National Livestock Identification System database for the period January 2008 to December 2012 were accessed and analysed. Postcodes were used to allocate each individual property to one of 12 livestock production regions. National movement patterns and the characteristics of each livestock production region were quantified in terms of the number of consignments and animals moved, and seasonality of movements.
The majority of cattle movements remained within a single livestock production region, while those that did not, usually remained within the same state or territory. Producers were the most common source of cattle, and abattoirs and other producers the most common destinations, with approximately 40% of animals moving via a saleyard. The northern regions generally moved larger consignments than the southern regions and were less connected to other regions. The eastern and south-eastern regions were very well connected by cattle movements. Seasonal patterns were seen for some regions, particularly the northern regions where weather patterns strongly influence the ability of producers to muster and transport stock.
The movement patterns observed provide quantitative support for previous information based on surveys and expert opinion, and capture more of the variability in Australian cattle production. This information may assist with management of animal disease risks, in particular exotic diseases, and in planning surveillance programs.
确定可能影响澳大利亚牛群疾病传播的牛只移动模式。
获取并分析了国家牲畜识别系统数据库2008年1月至2012年12月期间的记录。使用邮政编码将每个单独的牧场分配到12个牲畜生产区域之一。根据运输批次数量、移动动物数量和移动的季节性，对全国的移动模式和每个牲畜生产区域的特征进行了量化。
大多数牛只移动仍在单个牲畜生产区域内，而那些跨区域移动的牛只通常仍在同一州或领地内。生产者是牛只最常见的来源，屠宰场和其他生产者是最常见的目的地，约40%的动物通过牲畜市场进行移动。北部地区通常运输的批次比南部地区大，且与其他地区的联系较少。东部和东南部地区通过牛只移动联系非常紧密。部分地区出现了季节性模式，特别是北部地区，那里的天气模式强烈影响生产者聚集和运输牲畜的能力。
观察到的移动模式为基于调查和专家意见的先前信息提供了定量支持，并捕捉到了澳大利亚养牛业更多的变异性。这些信息可能有助于动物疾病风险的管理，特别是外来疾病，并有助于规划监测计划。
