Date: 29 January 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
import of bulls from an infected property in Queensland.
The National Johne’s Disease Control Program 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 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 315 bulls to date. Of these, 312 bulls tested negative to BJD shedding,
although three bulls (of the 312 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.
Two bulls still have test results awaiting finalisation. The results are expected in March 2015.
Herd testing will be conducted as part of property management plans on the five properties in
2015.
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 national requirements and maintain WA’s Free Zone status.
Further location, culling and testing of the remaining imported bulls will take place in 2015. Routine
herd testing is planned for 2015. Resolution of this incident is likely to require surveillance until
2018 unless all traced bulls are accounted for.
Movement of certain low-risk classes of cattle off restricted properties is allowed under permit and
in accordance with the 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
The current surveillance program in Western Australia was initiated in response to WA industry
support for maintaining WA as a BJD Free Zone.
The five Kimberley properties remain under movement restrictions, with Quarantine Notices
placed on these trace forward properties due to suspicion of BJD having moved from the infected
source property in Queensland.
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 program (NJDP) to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of
industry. The BJD Steering Committee, the body that administers the NJDP, has brought forward
the review of the program to 16 February 2015.
Community, industry, government and research stakeholders have been invited to the review, with
DAFWA’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and other WA industry members attending the meeting.
Further information can be found by visiting the Animal Health Australia webpage: national BJD
strategic plan review.
DAFWA’s CVO, Dr Michelle Rodan, met with WA cattle industry representatives, which included
WA state farming organisations, on 19 January 2015 to update them on technical issues which will
be considered as part of the national review and which may impact the future management of BJD
in WA. PGA and WA Farmers will attend the national BJD strategic plan meeting and represent
the WA cattle industry.
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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