Risk of H5 bird flu to commercial beef cattle & sheep industries?
- ASHEEP & BEEF
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Sarah Brown, ASHEEP & BEEF
If you are seeking information on the risk of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) (H5 bird flu) to Australian commercial beef cattle and sheep industries, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has a range of resources developed from an independent risk assessment completed in September 2025.
The risk was estimated to be negligible for beef cattle and small ruminants (sheep and goats). There is uncertainty in these estimates due to a limited knowledge of possible virus behaviour in an Australian context.
DAFF H5 bird flu livestock risk website:
The website states (accessed 21 June 2026):
"The Australian Government High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Preparedness Taskforce partnered with Dairy Australia in December 2024 to commission an independent risk assessment of H5 HPAI (referred to as H5 bird flu) in Australian dairy cattle.
The report was completed in September 2025. It provides guidance on preparedness and response measures for industry and government. It also provides rapid risk appraisals for other livestock sectors including: beef cattle, pigs, small ruminants (sheep and goats).
The report estimated the risk to the Australian dairy industry to be low. The risk is estimated to be negligible for beef cattle and small ruminants (sheep and goats), and low for pigs."
Biosecurity actions
Globally, H5 bird flu has been detected in cattle, and there have been rare detections in sheep. Full detail on the risk assessments, possible transmission pathways to sheep and beef cattle, and biosecurity practices that producers can consider, are covered in the following reports:
Hall, R. 2025. Risk of high pathogenicity avian influenza to Australian beef cattle: rapid risk assessment, report prepared by Ausvet Pty Ltd for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra. CC BY 4.0.
See page vi for summary of biosecurity recommendations.
MacPhillamy, I & Hall, RN. 2025. Risk of high pathogenicity avian influenza to Australian small ruminant industries rapid risk assessment, report prepared by Ausvet Pty Ltd for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra. CC BY 4.0. See page vii for summary of biosecurity recommendations.
Some of the key biosecurity recommendations that Australian broadacre sheep and beef cattle producers can consider undertaking include:
Enhance passive surveillance (e.g. monitor for sick livestock, wild birds or wildlife).
If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other wildlife, do not move them. Avoid contact. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
If you see unusual disease signs, abnormal behaviour or unexpected deaths in sheep or cattle, report to a vet. If there are multiple animals involved, discuss with the vet whether you can utilise the Significant Disease Investigation Program to considerably subsidise or cover investigation costs. The contact details for DPIRD's field vets are linked here.
Keep dogs and pets away from wildlife, including preventing cats from roaming and keeping dogs on leads in wildlife areas.
If you own chickens or birds, prevent wild birds mixing with your birds, and accessing their feed and water. Keep pens, aviaries, feeders, water containers and equipment clean. Clean boots and wash hands thoroughly with soap before and after visiting poultry or handling birds. Monitor birds for signs of disease or sudden deaths and report multiple deaths.
Avoid co‑mingling livestock and poultry and limit contact with potentially contaminated environments and poultry by‑products (e.g. poultry litter or manure used as fertiliser).
Avoid sharing (unclean) equipment or vehicles with poultry (and dairy) farms.
Where possible, prevent or limit access of wild birds, poultry and peri-domestic wildlife to livestock feed, feed storage, water sources, bedding material, facilities and equipment.
Consider use of personal protective equipment when managing sick animals or in close contact with secretions.
When going to and from national parks, reserves or farms, clean your shoes, clothing and vehicle to help prevent spreading diseases between places.
These recommendations are a combination of those currently provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as general advice and those from DAFF's independent reports (linked above).
See the DAFF reports for further detail and recommendations.
See DPIRD's website for further information on Western Australia's response.
For further resources, see birdflu.gov.au.
Follow this link to a factsheet on Understanding the risks to Australia’s livestock industries from H5 avian influenza (bird flu).
Does your region have effective biosecurity communication tools in place?
In collaboration with Swans Veterinary Services, ASHEEP & BEEF runs a Livestock Health Alert WhatsApp group for sheep and cattle producers in the Esperance region. The group includes local vets, the region's Government Vet, and local producers and industry. Groups such as this provide a rapid, localised communication channel during biosecurity incidents. ASHEEP & BEEF is available to share insights and lessons learned to support grower groups or veterinary practices interested in establishing similar communication tools in other regions.
