Proceedings of the 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis

The statement provides:
• A standardised animal health declaration form that would allow movement <strong>of</strong> sheep
across state borders.
• Information on <strong>the</strong> health status <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r to minimise paperwork.
• A tool for promoting and managing farm biosecurity.
THE NATIONAL SHEEP HEALTH STATEMENT
Industry organisations are very supportive <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> move away from regulatory control and an
increased emphasis on farm biosecurity. The Statement is a readily accessible tool to assist
producers manage <strong>the</strong>ir risk <strong>of</strong> inadvertently sourcing sheep with OJD and also improves
consistency and easier movement between states.
There are five sections to <strong>the</strong> National Sheep Health Statement.
Section 1 - Consignment information: Confirms <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sheep and identification
for traceability purposes.
Section 2 - ABC score: A key feature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Sheep Health Statement is a
producer’s declaration about <strong>the</strong> ABC score <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sheep in <strong>the</strong> consignment that
indicates <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> ovine Johne’s disease.
Section 3 and Section 4 – Footrot and o<strong>the</strong>r health information: Endemic diseases which
had previously required separate state based declaration forms.
Section 5 – Declaration: Although using <strong>the</strong> Statement is voluntary in most states, it is a
legal declaration under <strong>the</strong> stock diseases legislation and producers may be prosecuted
for false declarations. The statement is not valid unless it is signed.
How do producers work out <strong>the</strong>ir ABC score?
Under <strong>the</strong> ABC Scheme, a sheep producer can claim credit points for his or her sheep under
four Categories:
A. Area and flock <strong>of</strong> origin - The known ovine Johne's disease status <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> flock or <strong>the</strong>
Prevalence Area from which <strong>the</strong> sheep originated. (Refer to Figure 1)
B. Testing history, including negative flock tests for <strong>the</strong> Sheep Market Assurance
Program, as well as negative abattoir monitoring.
C. Vaccination history and whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> sheep are vaccinated <strong>the</strong>mselves, as well as
whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y come from a fully vaccinated flock and are <strong>the</strong> progeny <strong>of</strong> vaccinated
sheep. The use <strong>of</strong> Gudair vaccine is encouraged in all prevalence areas.
Vaccinated sheep are eligible for ABC points for vaccination if <strong>the</strong>y are identified by a
standard NLIS (Sheep) ear tag incorporating a "V" identifier.
D. Individual veterinary risk assessment for a consignment <strong>of</strong> sheep undertaken by an
Approved Veterinarian.
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