passion to profit

Alpaca industry moves towards professional classing standardsNew ground for tea-tree industryChemical-free weed control with microwavesMelioidosis – a threat to northern new rural industries

Alpaca industry moves towards professional classing standardsNew ground for tea-tree industryChemical-free weed control with microwavesMelioidosis – a threat to northern new rural industries

Issue 13, February/March 2013

ISSN

-600

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A word from the Editor .................................................................. 05

NEWS:Diuron product registrations affirmed with significant use changes ......................................................06

A natural brick in the wall in cancer battle .............................06

Alpaca industry moves towards professional classing standards .................................................. 07

Donkeys to the rescue .................................................................... 09

Protected cropping moving forward ...................................... 09

One giant leap for soil science .................................................... 09

New ground for Tea-Tree industry .............................................10

New App available now ..................................................................10

Chemical free weed control with microwaves ......................11

Seaweed as biofuel ...........................................................................11

Alpacas to protect our fire fighters ............................................11

PROFILE:ALPACA STUD .....................................................................................12 Rosemary Eva and Liz Coles of Longueville Park

COLLABORATION:Melioidosis – A threat to all northern new rural industries ..........................................................................14

InsideVisit our websitewww.nria.org.au

& Get the latest news on NRIA. & Learn all about the new rural

industries. & Access links to industry associations and organisations. & Read profiles of producers. & Access to articles on subjects common to all involved

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NRIA Conference and Expo 2010

Producing a product successfully

Tax and Primary Production

Collective Marketing – what are the choices?

Issue 1 October 2010The magazine of New Rural Industries Australia

PROFITpassion to

ISSN

183

8-60

16

Centrefarm: New, Rural,

Industry, Australia

How to be big

without being big

Building a healthy

soil for crops and livestock

Issue 3 April/May 2011

The magazine of New Rural Industries AustraliaPROFITpassion to

Issue 4 June/July 2011The magazine of New Rural Industries AustraliaPROFIT

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Global “Worming”Irrigation practices & systems

Agritourism: Connecting communities

front cover sml.pdf 1 17/01/11 5:48 PM

14

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4 Passion to Profit – the magazine of new Rural Industries Australia Issue 13 – 2013

Soft, warm, lightweight, luxurious fibre12 natural fleece colours - no dying requiredSoft padded feet minimize damage to soils

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AustralianTRUFFLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

The voice of the industry

STANDARDSQUALITY

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Passion to Profit – the magazine of new Rural Industries Australia Issue 13 – 2013 5

Passion to Profit the magazine of New Rural Industries Australia ISSN 1838-6008

Passion to Profit – the magazine of New Rural Industries Australia, is published online every three months, free of charge. It is sent directly to subscribers and members of New Rural Industries Australia as well as to new rural industry peak bodies and allied industries. Subscription and Membership to NRIA available at www.nria.org.au. All rights reserved.

New Rural Industries Australia Level 27, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000, Australia.

Advertising: For advertising rate card contact and all ad bookings, email [email protected].

Editor: Lana Mitchell. [email protected]

Editorial Contributions are welcome and should be emailed to the editor.

Designer: Cheryl Zwart of Orphix

Publisher: Get communicating Pty Ltd for New Rural Industries Australia

ISSN 18380-6016 (On-line)

Copyright: No material published in Passion to Profit may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the New Rural Industries Australia.

Disclaimer: The publisher reserves the right to refuse any application considered inappropriate. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the written permission of New Rural Industries Australia. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within the magazine, the publisher, printer and their agents cannot accept responsibility for error or omission. Views held by contributors are their own and do not necessarily coincide with those of the publisher or editor.

A word from the editor

COVER PhOtO:Seaweed as a biofuel. Photo courtesy of Pia Winberg of Seaweeds Australia

Welcome to the February/March issue of Passion to Profit.Unfortunately, new and emerging rural industries have to climb many a mountain that the mainstream industries do not. Each one needs to deal with genetics, R & D, commercialisation, breeding systems, market development, pest/disease control, export, quality standards and more. And when it comes down to it – if the persons in an industry, or in a new rural business, do not have an efficient operating basis, the task becomes a near impossibility.Efficiency is a vital part of our existence.In a recent discussion I had with a successful entrepreneur, we were comparing

notes on efficiency – and we both came down to one very basic principle that can be applied to improve day to day business, in any industry.The principle is what has been called “the cycle of action”. It is essentially the recognition that in any job there is a start, a change and then a finish, or a stop. No matter what the task or action, it requires an initiation of some sort, and then a continuation/change of whatever kind, and then a conclusion or finish.This applies both on short term (such as the day to day tasks on farm), on the medium term (such as the quarterly financials and marketing projects), and on the long term (when it comes to starting, building and eventually selling a business, or passing it on to family as part of a succession plan).In any one day, you will find you are continually taking up cycles of action – and to the degree that you can take any one job, task or action through from start, to change, to stop – you have controlled and completed that job. Any mother of young children will know this cold – as it is the secret behind “multi-tasking”. How to get the dinner made, while juggling two small children, cleaning up the living room and taking a business call at the same time. To the degree you can get back to each one and carry through with that cycle of action (start, change, stop), you have control and you are getting something done (even though it does seem an impossibility at times!)The fact is, if you feel overwhelmed, anxious or simply beaten by work of whatever kind, simply listing out those jobs that are not completed “cycles of action”, and then working one by one, to take each through to fruition, will bring out the sun. The anxiety will vanish, and you will find morale shoots up, and you are able to take on more.New and emerging industries are unquestionably taxing – but on the other end of the scale they are also incredibly rewarding —- and I hope this little secret of efficiency can assist you on your journey towards those rewards.Enjoy the magazine!Lana Mitchell Editor [email protected]


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sDiuron product registrations affirmed with significant use changesThe Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has recently announced the outcomes of its review of Diuron, a herbicide used for the control of agricultural weeds and weeds and algae in and around water bodies.

“Today’s announcement, affirming the registration of most Diuron products, but with significant changes to their conditions of use, will bring much-needed certainty to users of these products”, said APVMA spokesperson, Ms Susan Whitbread.

“The restrictions we’ve put in place are very specific for individual crops, and in the case of sugarcane and pineapple, additional seasonal ‘no-spray windows’ apply.

“While the overall changes are complex, the APVMA has taken a very pragmatic and tailored approach to local use and conditions. We have made a considerable effort to develop workable instructions for the continued use of diuron, while ensuring we can effectively manage risks from the use of this environmentally mobile and persistent chemical.

“Some uses, including industrial applications and use in non-agricultural situations, citrus, apples and pears, ornamental plants and tropical crops such as tea, coffee and pawpaw will no longer be approved.

“Other uses have been restricted significantly, including reduced rates of application, application on relatively flat land, no spraying when heavy or persistent rain is forecast and spraydrift buffer zones. There are further restrictions for higher levels of application on sugarcane and pineapples through the use of region and season specific ‘no-spray windows’”, said Ms Whitbread.

A natural brick in the wall in cancer battleMedical scientists have long been divided over the benefits of natural remedies for serious health conditions, especially chronic diseases like cancer.

Now scientists from Griffith Health Institute’s Molecular Basis of Disease research group on the Gold Coast have found a concentrated form of Tea Tree Oil, Melaleuca alternifolia concentration

(MAC), which can halt the progression of some breast cancers in mice. PhD candidate, Amanda Clark has been testing the anti-cancer properties of MAC in vitro and found the cell decline she was researching occurred through the crucial mitochondrial pathway in cells. The mitochondria are the energy source of cell growth. When transferred to mice, MAC was provided as a treatment every three days over a 30 day period and shown to suppress tumour growth, replicating lab results.

“We used a direct intra-tumoural treatment which has the added advantage of treating just the tumour and not passing through the whole body, like an IV drip. We found MAC not only reduced tumour growth, but may have unearthed an anti-tumour immune response as well,” Ms Clark said.

“By also reducing the bad immune cells and increasing the good immune cells that can kill the tumour cells we have a good chance of replicating these results in other cancers.

“The next step is to move from breast cancers to prostate and then lung cancers to find out if this treatment is just as effective with different types of cancers in different areas of the body.”

The Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) has been a source of medical research since the 1920s and been used by Aboriginal Australians for millennia, mostly on the skin.

Ms Clark’s research was presented at the recent Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference.

Source: Australian Hospitals and Healthcare Association


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Alpaca industry moves towards professional classing standardsSince the arrival of alpacas into Australia some twenty three years ago, the alpaca industry has largely concentrated on the breeding aspects of the animal and adapting them to Australian conditions. Whilst breeders use fleece testing and the show system to benchmark their alpacas, little attention has been paid to establishing classing lines and standards for commercial fleece production.

In more recent years private groups have emerged to collect fleece and assist in the development of a fibre industry, classing the fleece collected to meet the specific requirements of the products they planned to market.

For the Australian industry to market Quality Assured Australian Alpaca it is necessary to set a range of lines that consider the multiple aspects of alpaca. The prime considerations were obvious – breed type, natural colour, micron group, length and style – but other considerations for the processor and the consumer also need to be addressed – guard hair (kemp), SD/CV (co-efficient of variation), VM content (vegetable matter), strength (tenderness) and stain to name just a few.

Following consultation with classers, processors and consumers, combined with research into the Australian Wool & Mohair industries, a comprehensive Classing Code of Practice is now available. It will be this standard to which will be used to class Australian alpaca, enabling processors and international buyers to purchase Australian product with confidence knowing that what they are being offered meets the specifications they require.

The next step in this process is to train alpaca classers to a level of competency that will enable them to meet the standard required. To assist in this training The alpaca industry is in discussion with the National Training Council of Australia through TAFE NSW in order to find the best and most efficient way of introducing these training courses.

The alpaca industry is fortunate that there are a number of experienced, registered wool classers who have been working with and classing alpaca for some time.

With little training these wool classers could form the foundations for the first group of qualified alpaca classers. They would also be the logical source from which to draw trainers for prospective student classers.

A registration and audit system will be established for qualified classers in order to offer a Quality Assurance guarantee to potential purchasers. This will include a mechanism by which they will guarantee that the fleece offered for sale is genuine Australian alpaca.

Once all of these systems are in place, members of the AAA will be in a position to brand and identify their QA-classed alpaca with the appropriate registered mark.

In turn processors/manufacturers of Quality Assured Australian alpaca will be able to participate in a AAA licensing agreement enabling them to brand their products with a mark officially designated for the content of their product.

The introduction of this Quality Assured scheme for the classing of Australian Alpaca is a significant milestone for the future development of the industry and will help to maximise the return to the grower, the processor and the manufacturer.


Full Membership is open to producers and distributors

of essential oils and plant extracts and to producers of

plant material for the production of essential oils or

plant extracts. Associate membership is for researchers,

consultants, regulators and other interested parties.

www.eopaa.com.au

www.australianolives.com.au

National Peak Body representing the

Olive Industry of Australia

Stay informed about the

Australian Olive Industry

Visit our website to find out more

fresher tastes

The Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (ATTIA) supports and promotes the responsible use of pure Australian tea tree oil.

Formed in 1986, ATTIA is the peak body for the Australian tea tree oil industry.

Stay informed about pure Australian tea tree oil.

Phone: 02 6674 2925

Email: [email protected]

Web: attia.org.au

For more information please [email protected]


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Donkeys to the rescueWild dogs are considered so devastating across New South Wales that scientific officials have declared them a key threatening process. Farmers lose millions of dollars each year and now they are turning to donkeys, which are notorious for fending off dogs.

The Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary in the Hunter Valley has taken to pairing donkeys with desperate farmers like Mike O’Brien. Mr O’Brien travelled from Queensland to get his donkeys Milo and Coco. He says he has lost no sheep since they started work.

“I’ve tracked dingoes going flat across a paddock and seen the donkey tracks after them,” he said.

“The dogs have taken-on an electric fence. So they really stick the skids on under the dogs if they turn up in your area – and they do kill dogs.

“I’ve had all the donkey/ass jokes told to me and it’s like water off my back.

“I’m marking 100 percent lambs again, so I’m smiling.”

Mr O’Brien says donkeys are tough, bond well with stock and live up to 40 years.

Source: ABC Radio

There will be technical lectures, trade show, farm and market tours as well as social events targeted specifically for commercial hydroponic and greenhouse growers. Specific crop sector workshops will be held including flowers, fruit & vegetables, leafy greens (lettuce, herbs & Asian greens), and Aquaponics.

Delegates can discuss their mutual interests and concerns amongst their peers and fellow growers. More information can be obtained at www.protectedcroppingaustralia.com/events

one giant leap for soil scienceAustralia’s national soil databases can now be accessed in real time online through a new iPad app called SoilMapp. The new app provides open access to the best and most up-to-date information for soil at any location in the country within a matter of seconds. Information such as soil depth, acidity, salinity, soil carbon, soil water holding capacity and other attributes will help land managers, farmers and rural advisors make on-the-spot, decisions about how to more effectively manage their land.

SoilMapp is the first app developed by CSIRO. The app taps into soil information from the Australian Soil Resource Information System (ASRIS) and APSoil, the database behind the farming systems model, the Agricultural Production Systems SIMulator (APSIM), which is used worldwide. Both these databases are stocked with contributions from thousands of individuals and organisations including the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), state and territory agencies responsible for land resource assessment, Geoscience Australia, and soil research and industry groups. The databases contain information about approximately 85,000 samples from nearly 15,000 locations, some dating back to the 1950s.

SoilMapp was developed by CSIRO through the Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) project Doing it better, doing it smarter – managing soil water in Australian agriculture.

Source: CSIRO.

Protected cropping moving forwardThe 12th biennial Protected Cropping Australia Conference will be in Melbourne from Sunday 28 to Wednesday 31 July 2013. The venue is the Sebel and Citigate Conference Centre, Queens Road, Albert Park.


new ground for tea-tree IndustryAgricultural greenhouse gas emissions and building soil carbon in the tea tree industry will be the subject of a collaborative project between Southern Cross University (SCU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

Little is known about agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon dynamics in the tea tree industry. Growers currently remove harvested leaf material from the farm and replace soil nutrients with synthetic fertiliser and poultry litter. These practices do little to build soil carbon levels or reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.

The project is being led by SCU Research Fellow Dr Terry Rose and Dr Lukas van Zwieten, from the NSW DPI. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of its Carbon Farming Futures–Action on the Ground program, along with the university, NSW DPI, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association.

The project will trial and demonstrate the use of tea tree leaf biochar, poultry manure biochar and inter-row legume crops on tea tree plantations. These management practices are aimed at lowering emissions of agricultural greenhouse gases from soils while increasing carbon storage potential on farms. The project commenced in July 2012 and will conclude in June 2015.

Baseline greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon are being recorded from the trial sites and will be compared with management strategies including application of biochar and the use of inter-row legumes.

new App now availableThe Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have launched a free smartphone application providing mobile access to information about agricultural and veterinary chemicals registered in Australia.

The iPhone application, simply titled APVMA, enables individuals to search the Australian chemical register directly from the field. It also provides information on products that have been suspended, cancelled, or stopped.

Tea tree is a species unique to Australia and native to northern NSW and more than 80% of the world’s tea tree oil is produced in Australia. Most commercial tea tree production occurs around the Northern Rivers, where about 3000 ha are cultivated by about 100 producers. The greenhouse gas trials will be undertaken on local tea tree farms in conjunction with the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association. Dr Rose said there was also the potential for future projects using the same methods in other industries including macadamias, coffee and rice.

Source: Sustainabilitymatters.net


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seaweed as biofuelResearchers at James Cook University have received a $5 million grant to research, develop and demonstrate Australia’s first freshwater and marine macro-algae to biofuels project. A $15 million Advanced Biofuels Investment Readiness Program has also been set up, designed to support the investment case of scalable, pre-commercial advanced biofuels demonstration projects in Australia.

MBD Energy Ltd is a commercial partner of this project and Managing Director, Andrew Lawson, said macroalgae offer exceptional opportunities for the supply of biomass feedstock for the production of bio crude likely to be well suited to refining a comprehensive range of conventional transport fuels. Both marine and freshwater macroalgae are produced on non-arable land, and therefore this process does not compete at any level for food production.

The first stage of the project is to look at optimised biomass productivity and critically, biomass organic yields for biocrude production. A second stage of the program could demonstrate commercial scale production and processing of macroalgal biomass.

Source: Seaweeds Australia

Alpacas to protect our bushfire fightersIn 2011 a new product that uses alpaca fibre as a core ingredient was recognised at the Bendigo Inventor of the Year Awards – Mike Taylor of Mandurang South, Victoria won the $10,000 Innovator of the Year Award for his ‘Fair Air’ fire mask.

The fire mask is made of only natural, fire-resistant materials, easy to breathe through, provides effective seal for all face types, is comfortable for long periods, re-useable, one size fits all, quick to put on/take off and easy to store. A core element is alpaca material. It is an ideal external element for the filter, takes out a lot of the smoke particulates, and is also non-irritating to the skin and highly fire resistant. Testing by the CSIRO showed that the particulate efficiency was high and the addition of other materials inside the alpaca raised it to outstanding–100% for particles 5 micron and above and still 98.6% for 0.3 micron. The filter uses coloured alpaca fleece for the external side and white for the internal.

The CSIRO also tested it for fire resistance and found that it is the first respirator to pass the two International Standards for fire resistance : ISO 15025:2000 Method of Test for Limited Flame Spread and ISO 9151:1995 (E) Determination of Heat Transmission on Exposure to Flame. The latter test involved a flame of 600C+ and measuring the temperature rise on the face side. The standard requires at least 17 seconds, the Fair Air mask took over 33 seconds and was not burnt through in all that time!

Despite the above, since 2011 Mike has been battling bureaucracy and a shortage of funds for the fire brigades to get his fire mask made available to fire fighters around the country. The CFA has stated that equipment given to volunteers has to go through a “proper CFA evaluation process”, which in the course of 2 years, is yet to happen.

A CFA spokesperson said the authority remained in “active discussions” with Mr Taylor about the Fair Air mask but believed the current protection afforded to its volunteers was adequate.

chemical free weed control with microwaves The technology that heats the common kitchen microwave oven has been adapted to deliver a chemical-free solution to Australia’s weed problems. Dr Graham Brodie, of the University of Melbourne, has developed a fully operational prototype machine that can successfully focus microwave energy at ground level, killing weeds within seconds.

“Herbicide resistance and environmental concerns already limit the chemical options available for weed management,” Dr Brodie said.

“In looking for alternative weed treatments, we have found that microwave treatment is immediate, chemical-free and leaves no residue at the treatment site.”

Weeds are one of the major threats to Australia’s primary production and to the natural environment. It has been estimated that weeds cost Australian agriculture more than $4 billion dollars each year, including control costs and lost production.

Interest in the effect of microwaves on plant health dates back to the 1920s, but it was not until recently

Continued on page 17

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BaCkgrOunD Situated in the beautiful Tweed Valley Region of Northern NSW, Rosemary and Liz are dedicated to promoting the value and integrity of the alpaca. They have a full-time breeding facility committed to the alpaca industry, which they have been operating since 1997.

Our sTOry“Alpacas – You must be mad!” They said. “They spit, they’re hard to handle and they are sooooo expensive…” Well, yes in 1995 the last point was very relevant but considered the norm for the purchase price of these amazing animals that were starting to make an impact on Australian farms.

And so with these words of “encouragement”, Longueville Park embarked on the challenging and exciting journey of breeding pure blue/black alpacas. The breeding objectives were to breed alpacas that:• Were true blue/black,

Rosemary eva and Liz colesLONGUEvILLE PARk ALPACA STUDBlue-black alpacas bred for quality fibre, conformation and character

• Had a micron below 20um, SD below 5um and a CF of 95 -99%,

• Strong conformation• Good temperament

The initial herd consisted of three pregnant Chilean girls of debatable age who at their first unpacking at Longueville Park each produced very average males – wethers! So the challenge was now on to source the best males available to achieve a genetic gain to start on this journey and bearing in mind there were very few blacks in the country at this time.

Armed with a matrix of ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ characteristics to satisfy our breeding objectives, we headed off to a stud in south western NSW to assess an incredible line up of the State’s best black males. After detailed assessment of each male, the ticks and the crosses on the matrix were taking shape and directing us towards making some decisions for potential sires. From this line-up we selected the males that would improve upon our girls and fortunately our selections proved to be correct. From these selections the progeny from the next drop was a quantum leap forward


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and in 2000 we certified our first stud male and a year later our second stud male. Both these males were then used within the herd and each provided significant improvement that were then used in our subsequent embryo transfer programs. It was all happening!!!!

Running parallel with these initiatives we also embarked on the onerous journey of showing. Exhibiting at shows was certainly the way to gain exposure and to see how our animals stacked up against others according to the Judge’s decisions. Initially there were no colour classes, only age classes and when we starting being placed against the lighter colours we were confident the first step in the journey had been achieved.

Using the attendances at the bigger shows was also an ideal opportunity to network with other breeders and learn of their breeding objectives and the outcomes.

Another crucial step along the way has been to monitor our fleece criteria using annual histograms – it has been very rewarding seeing the micron and standard deviation drop as genetics are improving the fleece quality.

Over the years the broad ribbons started to line the office walls but that elusive Supreme always seemed to be just out of grasp. This was to change in 2009 when Longueville Park Brigalow became our first Supreme Champion followed in 2011 by Longueville Park Phoenix Rising and in 2012 by Longueville Park Milo

There have been numerous lessons learnt and perhaps the most important of all has been to

persist with your breeding objectives. When starting out in the industry don’t be in a rush to purchase a stud male–try before you buy!

Careful selection of good stud males can quickly improve upon your ‘average’ females so don’t confine them to the back paddock!

Don’t be afraid to try several different bloodlines as the ‘Supreme’ recipe may well be in one or more of those combinations.

Don’t expect every cria born to be a Champion but their progeny may well be!

And finally, enjoy the challenges and share your experiences with your fellow breeders – we are all part of a wonderful journey


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The wet season in northern Australia is the beginning of the melioidosis season. This disease is caused by a soil-borne bacteria that used to be called Pseudomonas pseudomallei, but has since been renamed as Burkholderia pseudomallei. When these soil bacteria enter the body of any animal (new animal industries or human) then disease can occur, based on the species susceptibility. It is a tropical disease, most commonly found in Northern Australia and SE Asia in the belt from 20 degrees north to 20 degree south latitude. There are suggestions that this disease is now in India, Pacific Islands, Taiwan, China 1 and the Caribbean2, although whether this is spread or just better diagnostic capacity and awareness in these developing countries3 remains debatable.

Camels and alpacas are most susceptible, followed by goats and sheep and then by pigs. It is rarer in cattle4 and horses. Camels that were moved into northern wet areas and an alpaca that was moved to Darwin, all died of melioidosis.5 Melioidosis can also occur in crocodiles, birds, native birds, kangaroos and other Australian wildlife.6 Similar susceptibilities have been found in SE Asia e.g.

1 Li, L. and Y. W. He (1992). “Pseudomonas pseudomallei and melioidosis in China.” Chin Med J (Engl) 105(9): 775-779.

2 Dance, D. A. (2000). “Melioidosis as an emerging global

problem.” Acta Trop 74(2-3): 115-119.

3 Currie, B. J., D. A. Dance and A. C. Cheng (2008). “The global distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and melioidosis: an update.” Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 102 Suppl 1: S1-4.

4 Choy, J. L., M. Mayo, A. Janmaat and B. J. Currie (2000). “Animal melioidosis in Australia.” Acta Trop 74(2-3): 153-158.

5 Currie B, R. B., Melville L (2009). “Territory One Medicine, One Health network and melioidosis in livestock and humans.” Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, 2009 AVA Annual Conference, Cattle/Public Health Stream.


Thailand, where goats were found to be the most susceptible, with an incidence of 1.63 per 100,000 goats each year, followed by pigs and cattle.7 Zoonotic transmission of melioidosis from animals to humans is extremely unusual.8 Cases in animals and people occur in similar geographic areas as both are exposed to the same soils and muddy waters containing these bacteria.

New plant-based rural industries are at risk as well as workers in muddy paddocks or areas of introduced grasses, although people are less susceptible than animals and generally only get melioidosis if immune-compromised due to diabetes, kidney disease, chronic lung or heart disease, or high alcohol/kava consumption. Up until September 2012 there were 97 cases in people in the Northern Territory for that year, mainly from indigenous communities. It is estimated that melioidosis kills 1000 people a year in Thailand and the areas where goats are most affected are also the areas where people are likely to be reported as having this disease.9

What is now also being seen is that travellers who go trekking in the jungles are returning to Europe carrying this disease. The initial infection is generally via cuts and abrasions and early signs are few so international travellers return to their home countries carrying the bacteria within their bodies. This disease is now also being reported in

7 Limmathurotsakul, D., S. Thammasart, N. Warrasuth, P. Thapanagulsak, A. Jatapai, V. Pengreungrojanachai, S. Anun, W. Joraka, P. Thongkamkoon, P. Saiyen, S. Wongratanacheewin, N. P. Day and S. J. Peacock (2012). “Melioidosis in animals, Thailand, 2006-2010.” Emerg Infect Dis 18(2): 325-327.



Melioidosis–A threat to all northern new rural industries

Dr Sandra Baxendell, PSM, BvSc (Hons), PhD, MANZCvSc,

GCertAppSc(RurExt), GCertPSectMgt, PGDAppSc, MRurSysMan


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France and one author called melioidosis “a tropical time bomb”.10

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: this website, <http://healthmap.org/r/1yAq>. All that is needed is to use the advanced search capacity, and add “melioidosis” added as the disease and then add in the time period of a year or more. This will then show a map of the melioidosis cases that have been reported for all human and livestock diseases. Alternatively the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has maps of where melioidosis in people is likely to occur, see map below. Susceptible livestock would have a similar distribution pattern.

What is of major concern is that the mortality rates for melioidosis are still quite high, despite being of bacterial origin with antibiotic treatments available. Reports from France indicated a mortality rate of 40%.11 Mortality rates in the Northern Territory (NT) have been reducing over recent years and are now considered to be the lowest in the world. In a retrospective study of cases in Darwin hospital over 20 years, the mortality rate decreased from 30% in the first 5 years to 9% in the last five years. This was attributed to earlier diagnosis and improvements in intensive care management. Of the 77 fatal cases

10 Perret, J. L. (1997). “[Melioidosis: a tropical time bomb that is spreading].” Med Trop (Mars) 57(2): 195-201.

11 Ibid.

(14%), all had known risk factors for melioidosis12. One patient actually lived in a city apartment and it was thought exposure was during a cyclone that resulted in muddy water coming into contact with her lungs. In a 12 year study in the NT of confirmed melioidosis cases a significant correlation was found between the median rainfall in the 14 days before admission was highest (211 mm) for those dying with melioidosis, in comparison to 110 mm for those surviving. The authors thought that heavy monsoonal rains and winds may cause a shift towards inhalation of the melioidosis bacteria13.

Climate change with the associated severe weather events may increase the incidence of melioidosis14 and when cyclones travel far inland in the NT, this disease shows up in these new inland areas15. In recent years cases have been seen in people in

12 Currie BJ, W. L., Cheng AC (2010). “The Epidemiology and Clinical Spectrum of Melioidosis: 540 Cases from the 20 Year Darwin Prospective Study.” The Epidemiology and Clinical Spectrum of Melioidosis: 540 Cases from the 20 Year Darwin Prospective Study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4(11).

13 Currie, B. J. and S. P. Jacups (2003). “Intensity of rainfall and severity of melioidosis, Australia.” Emerg Infect Dis 9(12): 1538-1542.

14 Inglis, T. J. and A. Q. Sousa (2009). “The public health implications of melioidosis.” Braz J Infect Dis 13(1): 59-66.

15 Inglis, T. J., L. O’Reilly, A. J. Merritt, A. Levy and C. H. Heath (2011). “The aftermath of the Western Australian melioidosis outbreak.” Am J Trop Med Hyg 84(6): 851-857.


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temperate areas in Australia, specifically Toodyay outside of Perth16 and Ipswich/ Brisbane areas, the later cases associated with severe rainfall events1718.

The treatment aims to kill the bacteria with antibiotics, stop blood poisoning, find and drain the internal abscesses and boost the patient’s immune system. Early vigorous treatment is the key and any new rural industries worker with these symptoms should seek medical advice: fever, breathing problem, abscesses in skins and organs, or general illness. Treatment and recovery periods are very long, with relapses very likely.

There is no real evidence that close contact with livestock increases the risk of people getting melioidosis, although one reference suggested that there may have been three possible zoonotic cases in Australia19. These same authors suggested pasteurisation for commercial goat’s milk produced in the tropics. It is thought that people, like goats and other animals get it via contaminated soil or water. The bacteria are not setting out to infect people and livestock as they are just happily growing in the mud or even in amoebas in the water. Our livestock, and even people, are just collateral damage, if the bacteria end up in the wrong place.

Most diagnosis in animals is done via a post-mortem. Pigs generally just get internal abscesses that are picked up when slaughtered and the carcasses condemned. The clinical signs in sheep and goats vary from sudden death to hind-leg lameness to nervous signs. Nine out of 43 (21%) goats had aortic lesions at autopsy and seven died from aortic aneurysm rupture20. In goats, these bacteria cause abscesses in lymph nodes and the

16 Golledge, C. L., W. S. Chin, A. E. Tribe, R. J. Condon and L. R. Ashdown (1992). “A case of human melioidosis originating in south-west Western Australia.” Med J Aust 157(5): 332-334.

17 Munckhof, W. J., M. J. Mayo, I. Scott and B. J. Currie (2001). “Fatal human melioidosis acquired in a subtropical Australian city.” Am J Trop Med Hyg 65(4): 325-328.

18 Scott, I. A., A. M. Bell and D. R. Staines (1997). “Fatal human melioidosis in south-eastern Queensland.” Med J Aust 166(4): 197-199.



clinical signs depend on where the internal swollen lymph node is located. If the lungs are affected then there could be coughing and respiratory distress. The udder can become infected, producing a severe mastitis and this was the case in a Boer doe in South Africa21. Similarly the testes can be infected22.

Other internal organs e.g. the spleen can also be infected. Treatment is not generally attempted as it is very difficult, even in people. Treatment of experimentally infected goats with tetracycline and chloramphenicol were not effective23.

There are blood tests available and some Queensland research on 118 experimental infected goat sera (blood samples) and 3143 sera collected from goats in the field, has shown that the best method is to use the indirect haemagglutination test as a screening test as it is the most sensitive and picks up past infections. Then confirmation is done with a complement fixation (CF) test which is more specific24. Newer tests are now available but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA still recommends the indirect haemagglutination test.

There is no vaccine for either humans or animals.

How can you protect your animals? Melioidosis is caused by a type of bacteria that is spread by soil and water and can survive in water for up to 20 months and in soil for up to 30 months. These bacteria live in the clay layer of dirt, around 25-30cm below the surface but with the wet season, the bacteria move up to the surface, contaminating mud, pastures and surface water. The bacteria multiply by division in both the soil and in animals.

It gets into animals by being ingested (via the mouth), being inhaled (via the nose) or through scratches or wounds that get contaminated. So keep your animals out of flooded pastures and ensure their water supply is as clean as possible. If you have to use dam or river water and are in

21 Van der Lugt, J. J. and M. M. Henton (1995). “Melioidosis in a goat.” J S Afr Vet Assoc 66(2): 71-73.

22 Fatimah, I., B. O. Ikede and R. A. Mutalib (1984). “Granulomatous orchitis and periorchitis caused by Pseudomonas pseudomallei in a goat.” Vet Rec 114(3): 67-68.

23 Thomas, A. D., J. C. Forbes-Faulkner, J. H. Norton and K. F. Trueman (1988). “Clinical and pathological observations on goats experimentally infected with Pseudomonas pseudomallei.” Aust Vet J 65(2): 43-46.

24 Thomas, A. D., G. A. Spinks, T. L. D’Arcy, J. H. Norton and K. F. Trueman ibid.”Evaluation of four serological tests for the diagnosis of caprine melioidosis.” (9): 261-264.


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treat seeds in the soil and instead targeting plant seedlings. The concentration of microwave energy collapses the structures within the weeds that carry water through their stems. Depending on the amount of energy applied, irreversible wilting and subsequent death occurs within just seconds of the microwave exposure.

Dr Brodie’s research initially tested a 600-watt kitchen microwave, before developing the 8-kilowatt field unit that has been tested in the paddocks at the university’s Dookie campus.

A series of four microwave horn antennae, each just 11cm wide and transmitting 2kW of microwave energy, were fitted to a trailer to focus their transmission solely onto the weeds in the inter-row space of agricultural field crops.

Dr Brodie said that in a broadscale agricultural operation numerous antennae could be mounted on a tractor trailer at spacings in line with whatever crop was being treated.

Treatment could take place regardless of the weather conditions, would successfully kill herbicide resistant species, and would not limit production schedules with withholding periods at the site once treatment is completed, he said.

“There is potential to develop an industrial 15kW unit which could operate in broadacre situations at near the speed of current chemical spray applicators, with each weed requiring less than a second of exposure to the microwave transmission,” Dr Brodie said.

“Microwave weed management has the potential to be applied throughout Australia to manage weeds not just in agricultural enterprises, but on public land, sporting facilities and in landscape gardening.

“A smaller 1-2kW unit could also be designed for use by householders if the market supported the concept.”

The prototype microwave system is now operational and can be demonstrated to interested parties who may wish to use the technology in commercial systems. More information on the National Weeds Program is available at www.rirdc.gov.au/weeds

chemical free weed control with microwaves cont’d.

Continued from page 11

a melioidosis area, consider chlorination. The poultry industry often uses chlorination to control other diseases, so information and the technology is readily available – see http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/pests-diseases-weeds/biosecurity/animal_biosecurity/bird-owners/water_biosecurity

Fortunately goats hate damp conditions so if you provide raised areas with clean feed and water they will prefer it to flooded pastures. If livestock are likely to have cuts e.g. after shearing or foot-paring, keep them away from soil by keeping them on raised floors, such as are found in a shearing shed.

If you live in the tropics, what are the best ways to protect yourself? Be sensible and don’t walk around in bare feet in muddy or flooded areas,

use boots and gloves while working in the field or garden, clean and cover any cuts and scrapes, protect yourself by staying indoors during cyclones and dust storms. If using bore water make sure the bore is very deep and cannot be contaminated with flood or surface water and/or consider chlorination. Take extra care with flooded streams and in boggy grassy areas. Seek medical help if you get a fever, an abscess or pneumonia-like symptoms and have been in the tropical areas or exposed to floods or cyclones. The Northern Territory Department of Health has an excellent factsheet giving similar advice25 and is much better than the US CDC bare bones advice.

25 Nothern Territory Government, C. f. D. C. (2012). “Melioidosis “.

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