Introduction
Changes to the Livestock Act 2008
From 30 April 2024, the Livestock and Other Amendments Act 2024 came into place.
Following these changes, further amendments are being proposed.
Read about these changes.
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis has been detected in Australian piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
A small number of positive cases have been detected in feral pigs in the Northern Territory. Surveillance is continuing.
Report anything suspicious in animals by calling 1800 675 888.
Find out more about Japanese encephalitis.
There are large numbers of race, pleasure, working and feral horses and donkeys in the Northern Territory (NT).
These pages have information for horse owners, horse industry workers and transporters in the NT.
Property identification code
If you are a property owner in the NT where horses, mules and donkeys are kept, the property must have a property identification code (PIC), regardless of the size of the block.
Read more about PICs and how to register your property.
Contacts
For more information about horses and biosecurity issues contact your nearest regional livestock biosecurity officer.
Moving horses in the NT
Changes to the Livestock Act 2008
From 30 April 2024, the Livestock and Other Amendments Act 2024 came into place.
Following these changes, further amendments are being proposed.
Read about these changes.
Horses, mules and donkeys can carry cattle ticks. There are restrictions on how and when they can be moved.
If you want to move horses, mules and donkeys within the Northern Territory (NT) you must do all of the following:
- ensure you have a property identification code (PIC)
- get biosecurity clearance if your animal is in the cattle tick-infected zone - see below
- follow Australian animal welfare standards and guidelines - read about livestock welfare and land transport standards.
Treatment for ticks before moving a horse
You must get a livestock biosecurity officer to inspect and treat your horse for cattle tick before you can move it from the tick-infected zone into the control or tick-free zones.
Contact a livestock biosecurity officer in your region to arrange a time for inspection and treatment.
You must give at least three days notice and you must then move the horse no more than two days after the treatment.
Livestock biosecurity officers
Darwin 08 8999 2034
Katherine 08 8973 9767 or 08 8973 9765
Tennant Creek 08 8962 4458 or 08 8962 4492
Alice Springs 08 8951 8125
You must pay a fee for inspection and treatment outside business hours. Refer to the list of biosecurity services fees.
Read the agnote cattle ticks PDF (258.5 KB).
Read the livestock movement conditions relating to cattle tick fact sheet.
Livestock movement conditions relating to cattle tick PDF (370.1 KB)
Livestock movement conditions relating to cattle tick DOCX (292.8 KB)
Bringing horses to Australia
You can only import horses to Australia from countries that have been approved by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, and they must meet all of the department's import conditions.
For information about how to import live horses to Australia go to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.
Horse health and welfare
Changes to the Livestock Act 2008
From 30 April 2024, the Livestock and Other Amendments Act 2024 came into place.
Following these changes, further amendments are being proposed.
Read about these changes.
Find out about Hendra virus in horses.
Publications
Get the following publications for horse owners in the NT about horse diseases and general management topics.
| Disease | What it's about |
|---|---|
| Birdsville disease PDF (255.3 KB) | How to recognise the Birdsville indigo plant, how to tell if your animal has been poisoned by eating it and how to manage its impact |
| How to detect, treat and prevent this infectious bacterial disease | |
| How to recognise the Swainsona plant, how to tell if your animal has been poisoned by eating it and how to control the plant | |
Walkabout (Kimberley horse) disease from eating rattlepod plants PDF (339.6 KB) | Information about rattlepod plants and their fatal effects on horses |
| General information topic | What it's about |
| How to safely fence horse paddocks to minimise damage to animals and keep them safe | |
Feeding livestock in temporary holding facilities PDF (69.1 KB) | How to properly care for and feed horses that are temporarily confined in places such as stockyards or saleyards |
Pastures for horses on small rural properties PDF (380.2 KB) | How to choose the right pasture species to sow in your horse paddocks |
