Proceedings of the 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis

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Behavioural change in owners <strong>of</strong> Johne’s disease infected beef herds
Nick Keatinge 1 , David Kennedy 2 , Lorna Citer 3 ,
1. Cattle Council <strong>of</strong> Australia 2. Technical Adviser National Johne’s Disease Control Program,
Animal Health Australia. 3. Manager Endemic Disease, Animal Health Australia
ABSTRACT
Bovine Johne's disease (BJD) occurs most commonly in Australia in dairy cattle in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>ast
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country. The pure beef sector has very little BJD and trades largely
independently <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dairy sector. Beef industry leaders are keen to protect this situation and
are supporting owners <strong>of</strong> infected and suspect herds.
Beef herds that are diagnosed with BJD can suffer discrimination that can have a
number <strong>of</strong> unintended consequences for <strong>the</strong>m and for <strong>the</strong> national program. They can suffer
financial loss through restricted trading options, a decline in land value and social isolation.
Unless addressed, <strong>the</strong>se can result in disengagement from <strong>the</strong> national animal health
system, significant under-reporting and undetected spread <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disease.
The Cattle Council <strong>of</strong> Australia has initiated a program that funds assistance to beef
producers whose herds are affected by BJD. The non financial assistance component is
provided by two BJD Counsellors who <strong>of</strong>fer an independent mediation service, provide
general business advice and facilitate <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> plans to eradicate infection from
<strong>the</strong> herd. Cattle producers who place <strong>the</strong>ir herd at risk by introducing dairy cattle or dairy
cross cattle cannot access <strong>the</strong> financial component <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Package.
The BJD Counsellors have been crucial in engaging producers to address <strong>the</strong>ir
suspicions <strong>of</strong> new infections or to eradicate long standing disease. For recently diagnosed
herds, <strong>the</strong> support cushions <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> market discrimination and regulatory control and
has led to improved cooperation between producers and regulators and an increased
awareness <strong>of</strong> on-farm biosecurity.
BOVINE JOHNE’S DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA
In Australia bovine Johne’s disease is essentially a disease <strong>of</strong> dairy herds <strong>of</strong> south-eastern
Australia. The dairy and beef industries operate as two distinct sectors with little crossover <strong>of</strong>
stock between dairy and beef breeding herds. About two-thirds <strong>of</strong> Australia’s beef herds are
located in Free and Protected Zones areas where <strong>the</strong>re is little or no evidence <strong>of</strong> Johne's
disease. Surveillance <strong>of</strong> beef herds in south-eastern Australia in <strong>the</strong> past ten years has
indicated a very low prevalence <strong>of</strong> BJD in <strong>the</strong> beef sector, with known infected herds
accounting for less than 0.1% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation’s 60,000 beef cattle herds. All <strong>the</strong>se infected
herds are located in south-eastern Australia. Control <strong>of</strong> bovine Johne’s disease is based on
nationally agreed Standard Definitions and Rules that cover zoning, movement controls and
quarantine, testing and culling in infected herds.
THE NATIONAL BOVINE JOHNE’S DISEASE FINANCIAL AND NON FINANCIAL
PACKAGE
The Cattle Council <strong>of</strong> Australia, representing <strong>the</strong> beef cattle sector, supports strong bovine
Johne’s disease control to ensure <strong>the</strong> disease remains contained and any perceived risk to
product integrity is minimised. Animal Health Australia, Cattle Council and state
governments, have put in place <strong>the</strong> National Financial and Non Financial (FNF) Assistance
Package (‘The Package’) to assist producers whose cattle businesses are impacted by
bovine Johne’s disease. A key element <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Package is <strong>the</strong> contracting <strong>of</strong> counsellors who
provide support to affected producers and facilitate <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> property disease
management plans.
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