KEY POINTS:
Leading thoroughbred breeder Sir Patrick Hogan is calling on MAF to urgently issue New Zealand protocols for equine influenza.
And he's not talking about the much-awaited protocols from MAF over conditions of quarantine for New Zealand horses returning from Australia.
Sir Patrick says it's MAF's responsibility to educate
every New Zealander who deals with horses about EI.
He wants to see everyone informed on what symptoms to look for and what immediate steps to take if a case was suspected. There seems little doubt that the spread of EI in Australia was initially assisted by the surprise factor of it being discovered for the first time in this part of the world.
That slowed the response.
Now we have seen the devastating results and understand the shocking possibility of it reaching New Zealand, we at least have the advantage of acting more quickly in shutting down the transportation of horses and confinement to certain areas.
"If the virus gets here without protocols being put in place I will be the first one to put my hand up and say to MAF how come you left us so ignorant?" said Hogan.
"It's not good enough for us to say thank God the virus didn't get to New Zealand, we need to be educated about it because even if it doesn't get here this time, it may well do in the future."
EI has already cost Australian racing and the country's economy billions of dollars and the total cost is a long way from being determined.
Yesterday the number of reported EI cases in Australia reached 12,000.
On Thursday the Gold Coast's flagship Magic Millions sale dates for January were declared as "no hope", by sales director David Chester.
The company is hopeful of settling on a substitute February date.
New South Wales, where EI has a real hold, has just been divided into four colour zones.
"It is the next stage in our EI Protection Plan," said Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald. "The zoning will see restrictions on horse movements softened in some areas of the state, particularly the important breeding areas of the Hawkesbury and Hunter Valley, while allowing the government to concentrate on eradicating the problem.
Macdonald said some movement of mares and foals will be allowed in what is known as the purple zone.
It is designed to allow valuable breeding activity and the movement in of horses with a permit, but those horses will not be permitted to leave the area until authorised.
Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara said the moves will save the Hunter Valley breeding industry.
Messara estimates A$10 million a day was lost during the three-week lockdown and that A$750 million will be saved by the new initiatives.
Former New Zealand racing journalist Jack Petley, now living in Sydney, says it is absolutely imperative New Zealand starts a vaccination programme for all horses.
An emotional Petley said yesterday most New Zealanders would be unable to grasp the full effect of EI in Australia.
"When you're among it you realise how shocking it actually is.
"When you read about it in the papers in New Zealand you think, okay, it's bad, but you don't see the human tragedy.
"Every day you hear of trainers, and people in all avenues of the horse industry going broke and needing counselling.
"Trainers have had to put staff off and if they're lost they may not be replaced.
"It's really only early days here and already they're talking of no autumn carnival [Sydney] next year.
"The devastation is enormous and it's a long way from finished." says Petley. "If Rosehill and Warwick Farm get the virus like Randwick who knows where this will end up.
"New Zealand racing has made some huge gains lately and all that and plenty more will be lost if EI gets there.
"They'll give everything away.
"Vaccination is the only answer and Bruce Wallace [Takanini trainer] is the only one I can see from New Zealand calling for it."
Len Storck, who has a horse with trainer Stephen McKee, contacted the Weekend Herald with his views.
Storck has been a major player in the poultry industry and was involved in measures to keep New Zealand's poultry free from imported diseases.
"I understand someone in the thoroughbred industry made the comment that it was inevitable that EI got to New Zealand," he said.
"Well, it's not inevitable. The poultry industry, with the right protocols, has kept itself disease-free.
"It costs money and it requires a lot of discipline, but it can be done."
