OJD Management Areas in NSW - update

Notification of infection

An owner is required to notify an inspector if he/she knows a flock is infected.

A vet is required to notify an inspector if he/she suspects or knows a flock is infected.

No regulatory action or investigation is required following notification.

Sheep Health Statement

A Sheep Health Statement is a formal document, signed by the seller, that accompanies a mob of sheep and provides a prospective buyer with an indication of OJD assurance or risk, using assurance based credit (ABC) points. The statement provides other health information.

Movement: ABC points provide assurance for trade but are not required for movement within NSW. ABC points may, however, be required for interstate movement.

Testing: ABC points for testing require supporting documentation, i.e. lab report, abattoir monitoring report, Sheep MAP certification. These documents may be subject to audit.

Further information on how to interpret a Sheep Health Statement is available in Primefact 940 OJD: The national sheep health statement.

Adult approved vaccinates - certification

SheepMAP approved vets are responsible for certifying approved vaccinates that were vaccinated over 16 weeks of age. NSW guidelines for approved vaccinates are:

• lambs vaccinated by 16 weeks of age,
• sheep vaccinated over 16 weeks of age in flocks participating in the SheepMAP,
• sheep vaccinated over 16 weeks of age in flocks in very low and low prevalence areas, where there is no known risk of exposure prior to vaccination.

Note: sheep vaccinated over 16 weeks of age in flocks in medium and high prevalence areas, or in at risk situations, may be able to be classified as approved vaccinates if the approved vet undertakes a detailed risk assessment and investigation, and concludes there was minimal risk of exposure prior to vaccination.

Further advice is available from DVs and DPI vets. The OJD information circular No. 2004/071 on risk assessment, field investigation and diagnosis includes guidance on assessing risk for this particular purpose. The OJD vet technical panel* may provide further advice if requested.

Suspected and infected flocks

Owners of flocks that are known or suspected to be infected are required to indicate this under category A of the Sheep Health Statement.

Reasons for suspicion or knowledge of infection are documented in OJD Information Sheet 7 OJD: Knowing or suspecting infection.

Suspected flocks

Resolution of suspicion is normally the responsibility of the owner and an approved vet, with advice available from DVs and DPI vets, or from the OJD vet technical panel*.

Infected flocks

Infection is normally confirmed by laboratory testing, i.e. positive histopathology or positive culture. However an owner filling out a Sheep Health Statement may conclude, on other evidence, that his/her flock is infected.  

The strategies to resolve infection are defined (see explanatory notes on the Sheep Health Statement), but with some CVO discretion. The CVO will take into account advice from the OJD vet technical panel*.

Certified low-risk sheep

Approved vets are responsible for certifying low-risk sheep from infected flocks, based on risk assessment and implementation of a Property Disease Management Program (PDMP). Advice is available from DVs and DPI vets. Guidelines for certification of low risk sheep are included in the OJD information circular on risk assessment, field investigation and diagnosis. The OJD vet technical panel* may provide further advice if requested.

PDMPs associated with certification of low-risk sheep need to include strategies such as infected flock profiling, strategic culling and strategic use of vaccine.

PDMPs may be developed for flocks suspected of being infected, but approved vets are generally advised against certifying low-risk sheep from such flocks until suspicion has been resolved by veterinary investigation, normally including testing. Note:  in some cases intensive investigation is unable to resolve suspicion in the short-term eg high-risk introductions only resident for a short period of time, and recently destocked prior to investigation.

* Panel contact is the Veterinary Policy Officer, Ph. 6391 3351, Fax 6361 9976.