Support to help beat BJD on North Coast

District veterinarians from the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority are keen to ensure beef producers in the region are aware of the support tools available should they discover bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) in their herd.

An initiative of the Cattle Council of Australia, the Financial and Non-Financial Assistance (FNF) package is available to assist beef producers whose herds are infected with BJD. In April this year, Cattle Council announced a three-year extension to the package.

North Coast LHPA senior district vet, Matt Ball says the FNF package provides a number of assistance measures to eligible beef producers whose herds are identified with, or suspected of having, BJD.

"These measures include access to a BJD counsellor, financial planning, as well as funding for testing and the removal of high risk animals from the herd," Dr Ball said.

"The objective of the program is to assist producers return to unrestricted trading as soon as possible. Taking advantage of the FNF program allows producers to develop a plan for eliminating BJD from their herd that is tailored to their particular circumstances."

Once BJD is diagnosed or suspected in a herd, LHPA district vets assist the producer develop a property disease management plan and also provide technical knowledge and support to ensure the appropriate steps are taken to clear the property of the disease.

Dr Ball says that the process of developing and implementing a program to eliminate BJD from their herd often results in producers changing and improving their management practices.

"One key practice to minimise BJD risk is being careful when purchasing cattle to follow the Beef Only principle. Beef Only is a classification developed for beef producers to help assure buyers of the low risk of BJD in cattle that have had no contact with dairy cattle," Dr Ball said.

"By being proactive, having a positive attitude and focusing on their long term goals, beef producers affected by BJD can successfully eliminate the disease and return to operating with a clear status."

BJD is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, bacteria that lives in the intestines of the animal. The disease is spread through manure, milk, feed and water with cattle becoming infected in the first 12 months of life.

For further information or assistance on BJD, please contact your local LHPA district vet. LHPAs deliver the frontline public animal health service in NSW.

Media contact: Suzie Robinson 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378