THE Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) believes the recent catastrophic bushfires in NSW and Queensland reinforce the need for an immediate implementation of a national horse register.
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And, it could be a handy initiative for people, especially those in the Upper Hunter.
"Efficient, practical and functional radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and a national horse register would provide traceability to ensure that we can easily return horses to their rightful owner following any natural disaster," AVA's Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) group president Dr Sam Nugent said.
"If we review the evidence from the extreme bushfires, which occurred in Victoria this year, we found that tracing the owners of horses that were found after the event, sometimes injured and in need of treatment, was extremely difficult.
"In the wake of recent events in NSW and Queensland, the EVA urges all horse owners to act to ensure that the identity of their horses is secured."
Electronic identification of horses and the implementation of a national register is essential for traceability, not just in natural disasters, but throughout a horse's life.
"Microchips allow operators to identify individual animals by means of a unique identification number," Dr Nugent said.
"The implanted microchips must conform to Australian Standard AS 5019-2001 and, should an animal change ownership or residence, the system can be easily updated to ensure accurate records are on file.
"Improved traceability of all horses is essential to ensure the best possible health and welfare outcomes for all horses during the course of their lives."
