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Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Victorian bovine Johne’s disease
Test & Control Program (TCP3) Rules
The Victorian bovine Johne’s disease (bjd) Test and Control Program (TCP3) is a voluntary
disease control program operating with the support of the beef and dairy industries. It is
administered by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI). The TCP3
program is available to dairy and beef herds with a bjd infected status.
Owners of herds participating in the TCP3 program must comply with the program rules as
outlined below.
General
The herd owner / manager must engage a veterinarian approved by DEPI to provide
professional advice on Johne’s disease control strategies and to conduct herd testing. A list of
current DEPI approved veterinarians is available from DEPI on request.
All dairy herds must have a current Certificate of Compliance issued by the veterinarian under
the Johne’s Disease Calf Accreditation Program (JDCAP).
Beef herds are exempt from participating in JDCAP.
Herd Testing
The ELISA serological test on a blood sample will be used for herd testing.
An animal in a bjd infected herd that has a positive ELISA test result is a test positive animal
and will be classified as a bjd infected animal. Animals that test positive to the ELISA
serological test are not to be re-tested. Repeat serology is not permitted under the National bjd
Standard Definitions and Rules with the exception of cases where the laboratory reports an ELISA test
result as ‘suspect’, in which case the animal should be re-sampled a month later to determine the
‘status’ of the animal.
Frequency of herd testing
Herd tests are to be conducted either annually or every second year until the herd achieves
Tested Low Prevalence (TLP). A herd of TLP status is an infected herd that has 2% or less test
positive animals among cattle that are 4 years and older cattle. Once herds achieve TLP status
(or better), a funded herd test will only be available every two years.
TLP and Restricted 1 (RD1) herds will only require a herd test every two years. An RD1 status
is allocated when the herd has achieved one negative herd test at least 12 months after the last
known infected animal was removed from the herd. In consultation with their veterinarian,
owners of TLP and RD1 herds may elect to test annually, but the funded testing will only be
available every second year.
Participation in the subsidised voluntary program may continue until the herd has achieved
Restricted 2 (RD2) status. An RD2 status is achieved when all high risk animals have been
removed from the herd and the herd has two consecutive negative herd tests two years apart.
Until 1 September 2011, current TLP, RD1 and RD2 herds will be eligible to participate
in one funded round of testing, after which funded herd testing for TLP and RD1 herds
will only be available every two years until the herd completes the program (or elects to
withdraw from the program).
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Age of cattle to be tested
All cattle 4 years of age and older are to be tested. On the advice of the approved veterinarian,
cattle less than 4 years of age (2 and 3 year olds) may be tested but this will be at the herd
owner’s expense.
Test Positive Animals
The veterinarian must notify the herd owner / manager of the test results including (if any) a
list of test positive animals. Notification to the herd owner / manager must be in writing within
14 days of the receipt of laboratory results.
The veterinarian is responsible for identifying the test positive animals, including the
individual NLIS tag details of these. The veterinarian must report NLIS tag details of the test
positive animals to the DEPI. There is no longer a requirement to ear tag test positive cattle
with a yellow DEPI ‘arrow’ ear tag.
Cattle which are test positive must be disposed from the herd within 30 days of receipt of test
results from the veterinarian.
These test positive cattle must be disposed for slaughter only direct to an abattoir, knackery,
or on-farm. Cattle showing signs consistent with Johne’s disease must not be sent to an abattoir
for slaughter for human consumption; they must be either disposed direct to a knackery or
disposed on-farm.
Herd owners must dispose of test positive animals within the 30 day timeframe to continue to
be eligible for subsidised testing. Failure to comply with disposal of test positive animals in a
timely manner jeopardises on-farm disease control. DEPI will monitor the NLIS database for
compliance with this requirement. Disregard for this requirement will lead to denied access to
the funded TCP3 program.
The NLIS details of any cattle disposed of on-farm must be updated on the NLIS database to
reflect the ‘deceased’ status of the animal’s NLIS tag.
High-Risk animal list
A list of animals deemed primary high-risk and secondary risk of Johne’s disease will be
developed by the approved veterinarian in consultation with the herd owner / manager based
on herd progeny records.
Primary High-Risk - animals deemed primary high-risk of bjd include:

the dam and all remaining progeny of clinical animals,

the dam and immediate progeny (latest calf) of test positive animals, and

any other animals the veterinarian considers to be primary high-risk.
Secondary Risk - additional animals which may be deemed a secondary risk of bjd include:

any other progeny of test positive animals not included in the primary high-risk list,

animals raised as the cohort age group of an animal/s with clinical bjd.
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Any cattle remaining in the herd which were on the previous Preferential Cull List are to be
transferred to the High-Risk animal list on commencement of participation in TCP3.
Animals identified by the veterinarian as primary high-risk must be removed from the herd
within 12 months and disposed by slaughter only. Animals deemed at secondary risk must be
disposed from the herd by slaughter only. There is no time limit on the disposal of animals on
the secondary risk list. Primary high-risk and secondary risk animals can only be disposed
direct to an abattoir, knackery, or on-farm. They must not enter a public place, such as a
saleyard or scales operation. Cattle showing clinical signs consistent with Johne’s disease
cannot be sent to an abattoir for slaughter for human consumption; they must be disposed
either direct to a knackery or disposed of on-farm.
Cattle with clinical signs consistent with or suspicious of bovine Johne’s disease
Under Victorian legislation, a herd owner / manager must notify DEPI within 7 days of the
owner becoming aware of cases of bjd or suspicion of bjd in their herd. Any animals with
clinical signs consistent or suspicious of bjd (gradual weight loss / emaciation and chronic
diarrhoea which is unresponsive to treatment) must be notified to DEPI and the veterinarian.
Notification to DEPI can be either by way of a fax or email addressed to the TCP3 Admin
Officer - Fax 03 5430 4520, or email: tcp3admin@depi.vic.gov.au
Details of this notification must include the herd owner / manager’s name, Property
Identification Code (PIC), the number and age of ‘clinical’ animals and the date of onset of
signs.
The veterinarian should give you professional advice on an appropriate course of action for any
clinically affected animals. To minimise further contamination of the property with the Johne’s
bacteria and to minimise animal welfare issues, cattle displaying signs consistent with bjd
should be removed from the herd as soon as possible and disposed of. These animals cannot be
sent to a saleyard or abattoir. They must be disposed of through a knackery or on-farm in an
appropriate and humane manner.
There is no obligation to investigate these ‘clinical’ animals, other than notification to DEPI
and prompt disposal of the animal. The herd owner / manager and veterinarian may elect to
sample the animal to confirm bjd or test for another disease. Any laboratory fees for the testing
for bjd in these cases will be paid by DEPI directly to the laboratory. The herd owner will be
responsible for the veterinary fees associated with any consultation and/or sampling and any
other (non-bjd related) laboratory fees.
Silirum vaccinated cattle
Any cattle which have been vaccinated with the bjd vaccine – Silirum™ and test serological
(ELISA) positive are deemed test positive animals and are to be treated the same as nonvaccinated test positive animals.
Any progeny of a ‘Silirum vaccinated’ clinical case cow should be added to the Primary HighRisk animal list to be disposed for slaughter only within 12 months as per other the Primary
High-Risk listed animals.
Progeny of any ‘Silirum vaccinated’ test positive cows should be added to the Secondary Risk
animal list to be disposed for slaughter only.
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Department of Environment and Primary Industries
This policy on Silirum vaccinated cattle is based on a conservative approach to risk until more
data becomes available on the vaccine efficacy.
Introducing cattle into the herd
The dairy herd owner / manger may only introduce cattle into the herd that have the equivalent
or higher National Dairy Assurance Score (NDAS). For example a dairy herd with a Restricted
1 status (NDAS = 5 points) could introduce dairy cattle from a herd with a Tested Low
Prevalence status (NDAS = 4 points) if the calves were raised under the 3-Step Calf Plan
which entitles them to 1 calf credit point, totalling 5 Points. Calves raised under the audited
JDCAP are entitled to 3 calf credit points.
Dairy herds should obtain / retain a copy of a Dairy bjd Assurance Score Declaration form or a
National Vendor Declaration (NVD) which states the National Dairy Assurance Score, for any
cattle purchased.
Beef herds may only introduce cattle into the herd which originate from herds certified to be of
equal or better level of assurance (status) in relation to Johne’s disease. For example a beef
cattle herd with a status of RD2 must not introduce cattle from a herd which is only RD1.
Herd owners / managers must ensure that the NLIS database is notified within 7 days of the
introduction of cattle including bulls directly from another property with a different PIC.
Johne’s Disease Calf Accreditation Program
Dairy herds participating in the TCP3 must continue to comply with the requirements of the
JDCAP and have a current Certificate of Compliance.
Participating herds that are issued with a Provisional Certificate of Compliance must address
and rectify non-compliances and obtain a Certificate of Compliance within 12 months of
receiving the Provisional Certificate.
Program Funding / Cost of Program
The TCP3 program is funded by the Victorian Cattle Compensation Fund with monies
generated from livestock duties. The Cattle Compensation Advisory Committee, appointed by
the Minister of Agriculture from representative cattle industry groups, is responsible for
advising the Minister on expenditure from the Fund for livestock disease control programs.
Subsidisation of the funded program administered by DEPI will be limited to the agreed fee
payment for:

Veterinary fees for the collection and submission of herd samples from animals 4 years
and older and the required veterinary activity following herd testing. This includes the
written notification of herd test results to the herd owner / manager, the recommended herd
status, the reporting of the individual NLIS identification of test positive animals to DEPI,
and in consultation with the herd owner / manager, the development of a written list of
animals deemed high-risk of Johne’s disease.
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Department of Environment and Primary Industries

Annual veterinary fee for advice to the herd owner / manager relating to Johne’s disease
control, the annual updating of the list of high-risk animals and the supply of the written
annual report to DEPI.

Laboratory cost for annual / biennial (as applicable) herd testing of animals 4 years and
older. (Cost for testing cattle less than 4 years old will be at the owner’s expense).

Laboratory cost for confirmation of Johne’s disease in any clinical animals sampled.
These veterinary fees are payable by DEPI directly to the approved veterinarian upon receipt of
a completed report and invoice to DEPI from the veterinarian. DEPI will directly pay the
laboratory fees for testing as described above.
The applicant (herd owner / manager) will be responsible for payment to the engaged
veterinarian for any fees over and above the funded fee. Herd owners / managers should
discuss their individual circumstances with their veterinarian and whether there is likely to be
any additional veterinary fees above the funded program fees.
Veterinary fees for the annual JDCAP audit are payable by the herd owner. The herd owner
may claim from DEPI, up to the maximum rebate (currently $250) upon lodgement of a
JDCAP claim form along with a copy of the veterinarian’s invoice and receipt as proof of
payment.
Compensation
Under the TCP3 program, no compensation will be available for clinical animals or serological
(ELISA) test positive animals.
TCP3 Program commencement date
The TCP3 program will commence from the 1st October 2010. It supersedes the current TCP2
program.
The TCP3 program will be reviewed mid 2011 and some conditions associate with the
operation of the program may change after consultation with industry stakeholders and with the
endorsement of the Cattle Compensation Advisory Committee.
Application to participate in the TCP3 Program
In order to participate in this subsidised voluntary program, the herd owner / manager
(applicant) is required to complete an application form acknowledging they understand and
will comply with the rules of the program.
The application form must be completed for herds currently participating in the TCP2 program
and wishing to continue in the new TCP3 program, along with any new herds wishing to join
the TCP3.
TCP3 Program Flow Chart
Below is a flow chart depicting the frequency of testing and herd progression through the
TCP3.
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Department of Environment and Primary Industries
TCP3 Herd progression flow chart
Testing
Frequency
A
n
n
u
a
l
Infected
Herd
No
Herd
Test
≤2% test
positive
animals
Positive
Yes
Positive
B
i
e
n
n
i
a
l
Meets criteria
(Note 1)
Negative
Tested Low
Prevalence
No
Herd
Test
Negative
NB Note 1
Yes
Restricted 1
(RD1)
Positive
Herd
Test
Negative
Restricted 2
(RD2)
TCP3
ceases
Key and Notes
Status progression - to progress to a higher status, all of the animals on the Primary High-Risk list
must have been removed from the herd and disposed of for slaughter only.
Test positive animals must be removed for slaughter only within 30 days
Clinical cases – occurrences of cases in RD1 or RD2 herds will result in the herd being
reclassified as Tested Low Prevalence (TLP), High-risk animal lists to be updated
Note 1 – To be eligible for RD1, at least 12 months must have passed since the last clinical case
was removed (in addition to meeting the ‘Status progression’ note above.
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