Stockowners have received a timely reminder that they should monitor for cattle ticks - a notifiable disease in NSW - and report any findings.

NSW chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie issued the reminder after 15 head of cattle died from tick fever on the North Coast last month.

"Tick fever is a serious disease of cattle that has the potential to cause significant losses in a herd," he said.

"Only cattle ticks can spread tick fever, so the best strategy to avoid getting tick fever is to avoid getting cattle ticks.

"Stockowners should maintain good on-farm biosecurity and check their stock for cattle ticks, especially if they stray or if new animals are brought onto the property."

Mr Christie said NSW had had 60 to 80 properties infected with cattle ticks each tick season in recent years.

The total so far this season, which ends with the onset of colder weather in June, is now 54 following the 13 infestations detected in this current outbreak.

"If cattle in NSW are infected with cattle ticks, the likelihood of getting tick fever is very low - but the consequences if it happens can be significant for the affected owner," Mr Christie said.

"This is why we ask stockowners to be vigilant against cattle ticks and maintain good biosecurity."

Mr Christie said the responsibility for cattle tick control in NSW had been shared between the government and stockowners for many decades.

"The NSW government has taken significant steps over many years to drastically reduce the level of cattle ticks in NSW - and thus the incidence of tick fever," he said.

"NSW regulations require that cattle and other livestock coming from tick-infected Queensland are treated for cattle ticks before they enter NSW.

"Border Cam electronic surveillance on the seven traffic crossings between tick-infected coastal Queensland and NSW is a solid first line of defence against the illegal movement of stock - operating around the clock."

Roaming random inspections add further security.

"NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) inspectors also monitor stock at NSW North Coast saleyards and abattoirs, and quarantine NSW properties infected with cattle ticks.

"The NSW Government pays 75 per cent of the chemical cost for on-farm cattle tick eradication.

"NSW DPI also treats all stock leaving Casino, Grafton, Murwillumbah and Lismore saleyards and going to property."

Mr Christie said farm biosecurity, the early detection and reporting of cattle ticks on farm and compliance with movement regulations were all part of the stockowner effort to keep tick numbers low - and thus reduce the possibility of tick fever.

"As a result of this significant and co-operative effort between government and stockowners, NSW has had on-average less than one tick fever outbreak per year for the last decade," he said.

"The number of stock dying in the three outbreaks before this latest outbreak was two (in 2007) and seven and 13 (in 2005).

"While the target is zero outbreaks of tick fever in NSW, no amount of extra effort on disease control measures will guarantee zero outbreaks."

Mr Christie said many North Coast stockowners will remember the days less than 20 years ago when the NSW tick quarantine area (TQA) was in place as far south as Grafton.

"At that time there were major and costly restrictions on the movement of cattle, horses and other livestock within the TQA and between the TQA and the rest of NSW and Queensland."

Chemical use for cattle tick control was also unacceptably high.

"Even then, tick fever outbreaks occurred in NSW."

Mr Christie said if stockowners find ticks on cattle, horses or other livestock and suspect cattle ticks they should contact their nearest NSW DPI office or Rural Lands Protection Board.

Information sheets and identification brochures are also available at any office of NSW DPI. 

More tick information is available on the DPI livestock health page.