More than 170 farmers have gathered for WA's first foot-and-mouth disease workshop, with three times as many tuning in online to hear what was being done in the wake of Indonesia's incursion.
Some of the state's top biosecurity and veterinary authorities spoke at length about how best to protect farms from the disease and what would happen if it was detected in Australia.
'A lot to take in'
Mount Barker farmer Lyn Slade helped organise the event which was booked out more than a week in advance.
She said the crowd could have doubled in a larger venue as farmers travelled from hundreds of kilometres away.
"There was a tremendous amount of interest," she said.
She said people had travelled up to 400 kilometres to her home town from Perth.
Speakers made it clear that any detection would likely result in a statewide livestock movement ban and culling of livestock around the affected property.
"There's a lot to take in," Porongurups farmer Alan Wise said.
"I think they're covering most things and there's definitely an emotional aspect to it."
Narrikup farmer Max Farley found the information useful but felt the issue of biosecurity at Australia's border was not being taken seriously enough by the state and federal governments.
"The thing I'm more worried about is they're looking at an outbreak, not so much at stopping one," he said.
Pet pigs a worry
Mount Barker farmer Marie O'Dea said lifestyle farmers and pet owners were conspicuously absent from the event.
"In an area like Mount Barker or Albany there are smallholders with sheep, goats, pigs," she said.
"They might not be aware not to feed pigs swill, or be scared to report (foot-and-mouth symptoms)."
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development foot-and-mouth disease preparedness coordinator Bruce Mullan said there was interest in more events from across the community and not just farmers.
He said livestock producers should have their own foot-and-mouth disease plans.
Speakers at the event outlined a number of suggestions for farmers like registering visitors, segregating incoming vehicles and using chemical footbaths.
But they stopped short of explicitly listing what livestock properties should do or penalising non-compliance.
"It's like a football team," Mr Mullan said.
"If everyone's playing their game, you're going to win.
"But if there's a weak link, you've got to hope the other 17 players can make up for the one who's having a bad day."
He said the department was organising more information events but had not yet set any dates.
