Description of the Australian pork supply chain and implications for national biosecurity management

Abstract

Outbreaks of emergency animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are typically managed through regulated control measures, including tracing, surveillance, movement restrictions, culling, disposal and decontamination. However, limited understanding and fragmented data on material flows – such as semen, live animals and meat products – within meat supply chains hinder policymakers' ability to assess the full impact of these measures and to consider these implications in their decision-making. This study aimed to map the material flow within the Australian pork supply chain and to identify the potential socio-economic implications of disease control interventions. Industry experts were engaged to assist in the drafting of a flow chart and to provide descriptions of activities at each segment of the supply chain. Results revealed a highly integrated and complex supply network. These structural and operational features, combined with regulatory movement controls, can lead to significant disruptions, including loss of livestock and breeding capacity, business income and employment, animal welfare risks, psychological stress, reputational damage from mass culling and reduced meat availability for consumers. The findings of this work emphasise the importance of decision-makers being well informed about the effects of supply chain disruptions and the socio-economic consequences of disease control decisions.