"More than 80 per cent of release sites for the rabbit calicivirus disease in Victoria have failed to have any impact.

A Federal Government study found the virus was deliberately released at 350 sites throughout Australia, but was effective at just 90 sites.

Victoria fared the worst, with just 15 of 80 release sites showing clear signs of the virus taking hold.

The Government is now preparing an Autumn offensive of RCD releases against rabbits.

Primary Industries Minister John Anderson said more releases would be made as the cooler weather approached.

That would also include the use of infected baits as well as releasing rabbits injected with the disease.

"I’m a little disappointed it hasn’t moved faster," Mr Anderson said.

"In some places it’s worked well. In others it’s been patchy."

The Victorian Farmers Federation estimates in some areas, especially the Western District and the north-east of the state, rabbit numbers are at their highest in a decade.

Mr Anderson said the Government was looking into ways of giving the spread of RCD a helping hand.

"What we have got to do is just try to maximise its effective spread," he said.

"There seems to be some evidence that - while we do not quite know how and why it spreads - at different times it will spread more efficiently for reasons not known."

Mr Anderson called for the study - based on data supplied from State and Territory vertebrate pest control agencies - to show where and why the virus had been more effective. The Government hoped to use the information to boost its spread into other areas.

The Commonwealth is also supporting a monitoring and surveillance program at more than 60 sites throughout Australia.

Changes in rabbit populations and the effect of these changes on agriculture and the environment would be recorded.

Mr Anderson stressed the RCD would not eradicate rabbits, but was instead another useful weapon in the fight against the pests.