FROM RIGHT: NSW DPI technical specialist, Sally Spence, with John Stewart, Agforce Queensland, Rick Webster, Queensland DPI, Paul Freeman, NSW DPI and Casino district veterinarian, Phil Kemsely, inspect a Casino Beef Only sale.

Queensland beef industry representatives have inspected a Beef Only sale at Casino in north east NSW as part of continuing moves in this State to modify the way Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) is managed.

Queensland authorities are considering whether to allow Beef Only cattle from BJD Control Areas in NSW to be sold direct into Queensland.

"The Beef Only category for cattle refers to herds that operate in strict isolation from the dairy industry - which is a known risk factor for bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) infection in beef herds," NSW Department of Primary Industries technical specialist, Sally Spence said.

"Cattle classified Beef Only as were approved to move from NSW BJD Control Areas to the NSW Protected Area and to South Australia, following successful trial sales in 2004," she said.

"Current BJD Control Areas include the bottom half of the South Coast Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB), the southern portions of the Murray and Riverina RLPBs, and the entire Casino and Tweed-Lismore RLPBs.

"Previously, producers in BJD Control Areas had to test breeding cattle before selling them into Protected Zones."

Ms Spence said Queensland so far had refused entry to Beef Only cattle direct from a NSW BJD Control Area.

"But as part of the general shift across Australia to risk-based trading of cattle - which has broad industry support in the southern States - they are considering the change," she said.

"It would mean beef producers in the Control Areas could increase sale opportunities without putting at risk the better disease status for BJD of the Protected Zones."

Beef Only herds do not have to test for BJD if they are identified by the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) and the owner declares in writing that the herd has had no contact with BJD, or dairy cattle, in recent years.

Ms Spence said BJD is a chronic disease of cattle which has no cure.

"It can be introduced when you buy cattle, so producers should ask for the BJD status of cattle before they buy or buy only from a CattleMAP herd which is low risk for BJD," she said.

"Because BJD is more common in dairy cattle, dairy farmers should manage their herds as if they were infected with BJD by protecting calves from contact with manure from adult cattle."

Ms Spence said further changes to the way bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) was managed in NSW were being planned by the BJD Summit Executive Committee, which advises the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

"The Committee is seeking to place more emphasis on controlling the spread of BJD through risk-based trading between individual producers, rather than zone-based movement restrictions.

"It has endorsed the national Dairy BJD Assurance Score which will soon be introduced in NSW to help dairy farmers reduce the risk of introducing BJD into their herds.

"Negotiations with Queensland are continuing to ensure that the new approach does not adversely impact on trade of NSW cattle into Queensland."

Contact Sally Spence, Orange, 02 6391 3100.