Date: 15 June 2015
Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) tracings in the Kimberley industry –
Western Australia update
3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, Western Australia 6151
The Western Australian cattle industry continues to work closely with the Department of
Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) to maintain WA as a BJD Free Zone while
minimising the impact on five Kimberley properties under movement restrictions following the
importing of bulls from an infected property in Queensland.
The current National Johne’s Disease Control Program (NJDCP) is an industry program and the
Western Australian cattle industry has supported maintaining WA as a BJD Free Zone. Test
results to date indicate this remains achievable, but this is subject to further testing and
surveillance results. Movement restrictions must be maintained and testing continued on each
property until the requirements of the current national program have been satisfied. Testing is
likely to be ongoing on the affected properties for several years.
The department acknowledges the input from pastoralists and industry in responding to these BJD
traces, including funding from the Cattle Industry Funding Scheme for bull and herd testing.
Bull and herd testing
DAFWA has tested 316 bulls traced from Queensland. Of these, 314 bulls tested negative to BJD
shedding, although three bulls (of the 314 bulls) had evidence of early infection but were
confirmed not to be shedding BJD bacteria. These bulls would have posed a risk of infection to
other animals in the future if they had not been culled as part of this program.
One bull was confirmed as shedding BJD bacteria although it was not displaying clinical signs.
The impacted property is destocking at-risk in-contact animals. Test results for one other bull are
pending.
Herd testing is being conducted this year as part of property management plans on the five
properties. One property has completed this requirement and samples are currently undergoing
testing. The four remaining properties are currently working with DAFWA to complete their herd
tests by the end of the 2015 season.
Future testing and management
While these results show no evidence of BJD in the WA cattle herd, individual bull and herd testing
is not at a point where the BJD status of the remaining five affected WA properties can be
finalised. For this reason WA must continue surveillance testing on these properties in order to
meet current national requirements and maintain WA’s Free Zone status.
Further location, culling and testing of the remaining imported bulls will take place in 2015.
Movement of certain low-risk classes of cattle off restricted properties is allowed under permit and
in accordance with the current National Johne’s Disease Control Program. Comprehensive
conditions must be met in order to allow movement of these animals. These movements are
monitored and audited by authorised DAFWA officers. Test results from the 2013/14 season have
allowed a reassessment of the risk of different classes of cattle and parts of properties, on a
property-by-property basis. This has allowed further trading of negligible-risk cattle from these
properties.
Future considerations and review
Australia’s Animal Health Committee, which contributes technical advice on bovine Johne’s
disease policy based on the requirements of industry, has recommended that industry review the
National Johne’s Disease Control Program (NJDCP) to ensure that it continues to meet the needs
of industry.
Animal Health Australia is coordinating the National BJD Strategic Plan Review. A National Forum
was held in February 2015 in Sydney and a second in Brisbane in May 2015, attended by
community, industry, government and research stakeholders. A Reference Panel was formed at
this meeting and the second round of consultation is currently open to interested parties for
submissions to the second discussion paper.
As this is an industry program, WA industry need to be actively engaged in the submissions and
consultation process. Interested parties are encouraged to contact their representative industry
bodies to ensure adequate representation of the WA industry as a whole.
Further information can be found by visiting the Animal Health Australia webpage: national BJD
strategic plan review.
Until the National BJD Strategic plan review has been concluded there will be no change to the
current approach to BJD control in WA. The current surveillance program in Western Australia was
initiated in response to WA industry support for maintaining WA as a BJD Free Zone.
Import conditions
Additional import conditions for beef cattle from Queensland entering WA continue to be in effect.
These conditions have been introduced in response to industry concerns about the risk of
introducing BJD into the state. Additional requirements involve a herd-of-origin Cattle MAP status
of MN2 or MN3, or a negative herd ‘Check Test’ for BJD within 12 months prior to movement.
Conditions of entry for stock being moved into WA are set out in the Health Certificate for
Movement of Stock into Western Australia (LB1) available at agric.wa.gov.au.
Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western Australia
accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this
information or any part of it.
Copyright © Western Australian Agricultural Authority, 2015
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