The state government is maintaining a “steady as she goes” approach to the June 30 deadline for Queensland beef producers, particularly studs and those exporting through Darwin, to comply with Western Australia and Northern Territory entry requirements under the new national Johne’s disease framework.
According to a Biosecurity Queensland spokeswoman, Queensland’s beef producers are working with veterinary practitioners to comply with the regulatory arrangements in place for movements of cattle into those states.
Queensland Country Life sources have expressed concern at the potential workload facing regulators monitoring the post-June 30 changes, but the spokeswoman said the new framework for Johne’s disease in cattle focuses on managing on-farm biosecurity risk rather than controlling disease through regulation.
“It recognises Johne’s disease is one of many diseases that producers must manage as a business risk,” she said.
“The changes allow producers to manage JD in a way that best suits their enterprise.
“The new approach places the assessment and the management of JD risks with them and empowers them to manage these without unnecessary government oversight.
“The Queensland government will still be there to support and assist producers.”
To comply with WA and NT entry requirements, producers need to set up a property biosecurity plan with endorsement by a veterinary adviser before June 30.
From 1 July 2017, Queensland beef herd owners have the following options:
Maintain current low-risk status (J-BAS 7)
- By 30 June 2017 - Apply a farm biosecurity plan which has been developed and is implemented and reviewed annually by a veterinarian
- By 30 June 2018 - Check Test (testing of 50 representative adult cattle from the herd)
- Ongoing – Maintain an annual veterinary review of the property biosecurity plan and a Check test every three years
Minimal management of low risk (J-BAS 6)
- By 30 June 2017 - Apply a farm biosecurity plan that addresses JD risks
- Involvement of veterinarian in the farm biosecurity plan is not required
- Testing is not required
- Lapse to J-BAS score 6
Do nothing (J-BAS 0)
- By 30 June 2017 - Choose or fail to apply a farm biosecurity plan that addresses JD risks
- Lapse to J-BAS 0
Maximal assurance (J-BAS 8)
- Biosecurity plan, with veterinary input
- Sample Test (210-300 adult cattle sampled), repeated two years apart
- Ongoing veterinary supervision and triennial Check Test
Herds will automatically drop to J-BAS score 0 (equivalent to the score of an infected and unmanaged herd) unless they have applied an on-farm biosecurity plan by 30 June 2017.
Details on the new national approach to JD can be found on the Animal Health Australia website: https://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Details on entry requirements for NT and WA can be found on their websites.