Rebate for veterinary investigations
to maintain Western Australia’s free zone status for bovine Johne’s disease
A guide for cattle producers
What is bovine Johne’s disease (BJD)?
BJD is a chronic wasting disease in which cattle
suffer from incurable diarrhoea. The intestinal wall
is thickened and cannot absorb nutrients.
The disease results in reduced production, deaths
in adult cattle, and lost trading opportunities.
slaughtered and testing costs are covered by the
Cattle Industry Funding Scheme.
Retaining WA’s free zone status
Testing has been carried out on properties
receiving cattle from the infected herd.
Western Australia is a BJD Free Zone
Extra surveillance is now required to demonstrate
that BJD is not present in WA.
A BJD Free Zone means that there is no known
BJD, and if disease is found it must be eradicated.
Cattle Council $ incentive
Having a BJD Free Zone status enables Western
Australian producers to trade within the state and
into other states without restrictions, and improves
international trading options.
The national Cattle Council of Australia has
provided funds to WA for a $300-525 rebate (plus
GST) to cattle owners for disease investigations of
adult cattle by private veterinarians where they fit
the description below.
Surveillance must be conducted to provide
evidence of freedom from BJD and is critical to
maintaining our Free Zone status.
BJD in WA
Eligible cases for Cattle Council rebate
Cattle that are over three years of age with the
following signs:

scouring (diarrhoea for more than three weeks
despite a worm drench)
wasting (weight loss for more than three weeks
despite adequate nutrition)
Nine cases of BJD were detected in cattle in WA
between 1952 and 2006. In each case the disease
was in imported cattle. Infection was found to have
spread to WA cattle in the 2006 incident. The
disease was successfully eradicated in all cases.

In 2013, bulls from a BJD infected stud in
Queensland were traced to properties in the
Kimberley.
Sampling
Cattle industry members agreed that the response
to this incident should aim to retain WA’s Free
Zone status.
The properties are undergoing investigation
including slaughter and testing of traced bulls and
herd testing. Compensation for the bulls
Supporting your success
Contact your private veterinarian if you see these
signs.
Your private veterinarian will collect blood and
faecal samples from up to 10 animals. If an animal
is very sick or has recently died due to these signs
they may do a post-mortem.
Samples will be sent to the Animal Health
Laboratories for testing. The Department of
Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA)
will pay the freight for the samples.
CCA rebate claim form
For more information contact:
Both you and your private veterinarian will need to
sign the claim form and send it to DAFWA with the
samples. Your vet will have access to these forms.
Dr Tom De Ridder, Veterinary Officer
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)8 9194 1420
Email: thomas.deridder@agric.wa.gov.au
Payment of CCA $ rebate
The rebate of $300 (plus GST) for each
investigation will be paid directly to you by cheque.
You will be paid a further $225 (plus GST) if a post
mortem is conducted.
The value of negative tests
If BJD is excluded as the cause of cattle illness this
adds confidence that there is no BJD in WA and
supports the maintenance of WA’s Free Zone
status.
As a cattle producer, you observe your animals
frequently and are first to notice if they are not
doing well.
A message from WA’s Cattle Council
representatives
“Cattle Council supports the WA cattle industry
in maintaining its Free Zone status for BJD.
“Cattle Council will provide a rebate for
investigations into the cause of cattle ill health
where signs are similar to BJD.
“We encourage you to take up this incentive
and contact your private veterinarian. Negative
results provide evidence that BJD is not in
WA.”
Geoff Pearson (WA Farmers)
David Lovelock (PGA)
What if tests are positive for BJD?
This is extremely unlikely. The rebate for
investigations is being provided because it is
expected the results will be negative.
If tests results are positive, a DAFWA veterinary
officer will contact your veterinarian and conduct
further investigations.
A joint initiative of Cattle Council of Australia and the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
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 Agriculture Authority, 2013