Working tirelessly to restore grower access to Custom Footrot Vaccine

Footrot is an inflammatory bacterial disease effecting the feet of sheep. More extreme (virulent) cases can result in detachment of the horn of the hoof, leading to lameness, ill thrift and secondary conditions, such as flystrike. Meat and Livestock Australia found that the economic cost of (benign and virulent) to the Australian sheep and wool industry is $83.4 million p.a.

WoolProducers, General Manager, Adam Dawes said, “We regularly engage our members and have consistently found for the last few years that footrot always features within the top three health and welfare issues for woolgrowers”

For several years leading up until the end of 2020, growers had access to a Custom Footrot R-Pilus vaccine (Custom vaccine) as a management tool for footrot. This access was possible under an Emergency Use Permit. With the return of Footvax® to the Australian market in late 2020, the validity of the Emergency Use Permit for the Custom vaccine ceased, and unfortunately it has remained unavailable to growers since that time.

The bacteria that causes footrot (Dichelobacter nodosus) is classified into one of 10 serogroups (or strains), with multiple serogroups often occurring within an infected flock. The Custom vaccine targets just one (or two) serogroups of footrot, based on the results of swabbing infected sheep on a property wanting to undertake a control or eradication program. Limiting the number of serogroups targeted by the vaccine to those present within the flock results in a more targeted immune response. 

WoolProducers have been working tirelessly since late 2020, leading efforts to restore grower access to the Custom Vaccine. This work has included working closely with the University of Sydney (IP owners), manufacturers, APVMA, RDCs, and other stakeholders to emphasise both need to restore access to the custom vaccine and to explore access pathways. This work has clarified that the only pathway to restore consistent grower access to the Custom vaccine is via full product registration, a process that will take considerable time and money.

“Since late 2020 WoolProducers has worked tirelessly with constant support and guidance from our members to explore all options to get the vaccine back to growers. Having explored all permit pathways, it is now clear that the only way to consistently restore grower access is via full product registration”, Mr Dawes said.

Recent work has seen a collaboration with the University of Sydney (and Subject Matter Experts in APVMA registration requirements), WoolProducers and Animal Health Australia to identify the research and documentation requirements to facilitate a registration of the Custom vaccine. As part of this process, the University has been consulting with APVMA to identify a suitable registration process to restore grower access as quickly and efficiently as possible, while adhering to regulatory obligations.

A report is in the final stages of drafting, after finalisation an approach market will take place to identify partners to progress the registration of vaccine and identify the necessary funding arrangements and timeframes.

Mr Dawes closed by saying “The report will give us clarity around the requirements for registration, it will allow us to find the right partners to get the vaccine back to growers. We still have at least another 3 years ahead of us before we obtain full registration of the Custom vaccine. We still need to find the funds to support the research and registration process, however it’s reassuring to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel”.

 ENDS

WoolProducers Australia contacts:

Adam Dawes

General Manager                                                                                                                                                                               

0455 442 776      

About WoolProducers’ Australia

WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.

Its mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.

The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.

WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.

WoolProducers is the sole wool industry member of Animal Health Australia, and as such, carries a significant responsibility for decision making on behalf of the industry in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.

As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.

WoolProducers also works closely with the Federal Government Departments on key issues such as animal health and welfare, biosecurity, pest management control, natural resource management, drought preparedness, emergency animal disease outbreak preparedness and industry development, including research, trade and logistics.