Foot and mouth disease (FMD): Feral pigs, deers will spread disease, grazier says

The superfine merino wool grower is fearful of what will happen to Australia's $80 billion agricultural industry if FMD makes it here

He fears the biggest spreaders of FMD will be feral pig and deer which are increasing in numbers near his farm in the NSW Central West.

"You'd have to set your own farm up as a biosecurity zone and keep stock away from fences, but all of that means nothing if you've got pigs coming through fences, and walking in mud and spreading foot and mouth everywhere," he said.

"Maybe they need to bring in a bounty for hunting feral pigs."

Mr Inwood, who is also vice chair of NSW Farmers Association Bathurst branch, said the Australian Defence Force's extensive resources and personnel could be deployed to target feral animals during an FMD outbreak.

"The Army have thermal imaging cameras and snipers, maybe it'd be a great training exercise," he said.

A significant portion of Mr Inwood's income is from selling old sheep, and he fears livestock sale centres would be shut if FMD is detected in Australia.

"More than half of our income comes from the sale of surplus stock, and these stock enter the meat market," he said.

"If you have limitations on being able to get rid of stock then what can I do?"

IN OTHER NEWS

He is among a growing number of farmers across the country to call on the government for quick, decisive action to prevent FMD entering the country.

"It does provide a very big stick for some other trading nations to try and restrict us [if FMD spreads to Australia]," he said.

"Australia's clean, green image is priceless in world trade."