Pest animals
The importance of the early SA colony's animal industries is reflected in the legislative program relating to livestock pests and diseases.
An Act for scab disease of sheep was one of the first passed by Parliament in 1840, and then regularly for the next 30-40 years. The first fencing act was passed in 1846, dog legislation followed in 1852, the first rabbit control act was in 1875, then the quarantine act of 1877.
In the later part of the 19th century and much of the 20th century, the livestock industries were supported by a wide range of vermin destruction and control acts.
Compensation arrangements for diseased animal carcasses were introduced from the early 1900s, for:
- pigs
- cattle
- sheep.
Producers agreed to pay an amount from their animal sales to cover the destruction of animals condemned at the time of slaughter. In most cases, these were to eradicate an exotic disease.
For more detail, read about Vermin Control in South Australia ().