Proceedings of the 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis

The two trained rural counsellors,
• facilitate a ‘pathway forward’ for producers who were previously unable to trade
breeding stock because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir herds’ infected status;
• <strong>of</strong>fer support and general farm business advice;
• re-establish links between producers and <strong>the</strong> state regulatory authorities where
communication had broken down;
• heighten awareness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> farm biosecurity; and
• change purchasing decisions to reduce <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> re-introducing disease.
How <strong>the</strong> package works
The Package is voluntary and confidential but all beef producers whose herds have been
confirmed as ‘infected’ with BJD or are classified as ‘suspect’ are eligible.
The counsellors coordinate social and financial support for beef producers who voluntarily
undertake to eliminate BJD from <strong>the</strong>ir herds. Government or private veterinarians, working
with <strong>the</strong> counsellors, provide <strong>the</strong> technical advice upon which to base <strong>the</strong> disease eradication
plan in each herd and to ensure that this complies with <strong>the</strong> Standard Definitions and Rules
for BJD.
When a new infected beef herd is detected <strong>the</strong> owner is sent information about <strong>the</strong> Package.
Those who take up <strong>the</strong> invitation are visited by <strong>the</strong> counsellor to help <strong>the</strong>m decide how to
proceed. Follow-up support involves <strong>the</strong> approved veterinarian and <strong>the</strong> producer’s own
financial adviser. The team assesses possible investigation and eradication options, whe<strong>the</strong>r
<strong>the</strong>y are likely to succeed and <strong>the</strong> financial impacts on <strong>the</strong> farm business.
Once an approach is agreed to eradicate <strong>the</strong> infection, an Enhanced Property Disease
Management Plan (EPDMP) is developed with <strong>the</strong> producer. Producers receive funding to
support its implementation, which typically involves identification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> high risk groups in <strong>the</strong>
herd (based on history and testing) and culling <strong>the</strong>se to slaughter. After <strong>the</strong> infected cattle
are removed, a 12-month decontamination period starts. The funding assists in <strong>the</strong> restocking
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> beef herd with cattle that must be sourced from a low risk Beef Only herds or
beef herds in <strong>the</strong> Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance program for Cattle
(CattleMAP). Beef Only is a herd category to help assure cattle buyers about <strong>the</strong> very low
risk <strong>of</strong> bovine Johne’s disease in beef herds that have had no contact with dairy cattle
Results
Since <strong>the</strong> commencement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Package, A$3.8 m has been committed to assisting 89
producers, 77% <strong>of</strong> whom have now progressed so that <strong>the</strong>ir herds’ ‘infected’ or ‘suspect’
statuses have been successfully resolved.
Table 1. Progress in <strong>the</strong> National Financial and Non Financial Assistance Package since
2004.
Number <strong>of</strong> herds Total
Invited to participate 149
Financial assistance accessed 89
Non Financial assistance accessed 21
Completed program 72
A recent independent review <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Package considered “that <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bovine Johne’s
disease Counsellors has a very high impact on <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Package. Both
private and government veterinarians were highly appreciative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Counsellors, especially
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