Changes to JD management 2016

Johne's Disease (JD) of cattle in Australia has been managed according to the National Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) Strategic Plan 2012-2020. NSW DPI and Local Land Services (LLS) were responsible for regulatory components of the plan on behalf of Industry.

The mid-term review of the Strategic Plan was conducted in 2015. The National BJD Steering Committee has endorsed a new approach developed by the reviews’ Reference group. For further information see the Animal Health Australia media release and the Framework document.

The new Framework recognises the key role producers have in the management of diseases on their property and for that reason producers are the very cornerstone of the new approach.

The objectives of the recast Management Strategy for JD in cattle are to:

• manage and reduce the impact of clinical Johne’s disease
• provide tools to allow individual producers to manage the spread of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection in accordance with their business requirements.

Major changes include:

• removal of zoning based on BJD status.
• reliance on producers to protect their livestock from disease from on-farm biosecurity management practices.
• a market driven approach where producers choose management practices that meet their marketing and business requirements.
• the CattleMAP will cease on 1 November 2016. Farmers can transition to newly developed programs. Further information is available from Animal Health Australia.

Further details on how producers will operate under the new framework document are available from Animal Health Australia.

NSW DPI has made required changes to regulations including the removal of zoning. As of 1 July 2016:

• No farms will be placed in quarantine on account of Johne’s disease in cattle and any previous quarantines have been revoked.
• There will be no legislated movement restrictions on account of Johne’s disease in cattle. This means:
  • No movement restrictions on account of Johne’s disease in cattle moving into or within NSW.
  • No movement restrictions on account of Johne’s disease in cattle entering NSW from other states or territories
  • No requirement for dairy farmers to declare the Dairy BJD Assurance Score (DAS).
• Local Land Services will no longer be required to trace livestock when Johne’s disease is detected in cattle.
• NSW will cease to be a Beef Protected Area.

Johne’s disease will remain a notifiable disease. This means that if a farmer or person called in to provide advice on cattle such as a private veterinarian who suspects or confirms Johne’s disease, they must notify Local Land Services.

NSW DPI and LLS will continue to provide property of origin export certification for Johne's Disease.