Skip to main content
 
  • Share this page on Facebook
  • Print this page

Zoning for Bovine Johne’s Disease

Note Number: AG0918
Published: December 2005
Updated: November 2010

 

Zoning is an internationally recognised means of assisting disease control. The aim of zoning is to help reduce the spread of disease from an area of higher disease risk to one of lower risk.

Zoning is used as part of the national program to assist control the spread of bovine Johne's disease (bjd) in cattle in Australia.

AG0918_img_1

Fig 1. Current bovine Johne's disease zones in Australia.  (map reproduced with the permission of NSW I&I)

Types of zones

Areas in Australia are ranked as Residual, Control, Protected or Free depending upon the level of bjd and the control measures that are in place. Specific requirements must be met in order for an area to be zoned in a particular way.

They can be summarised as:

  1. Residual zones: bjd infection is endemic and no or minimal regulatory measures are enforced.
  2. Control zones: bjd is present in this zone but it is a notifiable disease and there are control measures in place. There may be restrictions on movement of cattle into this zone from residual zones. Victoria is currently a Control Zone.
  3. Protected zones are those areas where there is little or no evidence of Johne’s disease, there is a high level of confidence that if disease were present it would be detected; on-going surveillance is occurring and strict control measures are in place.
  4. Free zones are areas where Johne’s disease is not known to exist. Western Australia is the only free zone. Considerable on-going surveillance is required to maintain a Free zone status, and immediate eradication of Johne’s disease is required if detected.

Zoning also provides a level of assurance, particularly when tested or CattleMAP stock are not available. Cattle from the Free zone are considered to have the lowest risk of bjd infection, followed by those from a Protected zone, a Control zone and finally a Residual zone. Specific requirements often must be met in order to move animals between zones. It is recommended that DPI animal health staff are contacted to obtain the latest zoning information and movement requirements. Inquiries should be timed to allow sufficient time for any necessary testing prior to movement.

Further information

Further information about bjd can be obtained from your private veterinarian, DPI Animal Health staff, or refer to the DPI web site: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/farming/bjd.

Acknowledgements

This Agriculture Note was developed in December 2005by Dr Jeff Cave, Animal Health Field Services. This November 2010 version was reviewed by Dr David Champness, Biosecurity Victoria.

ISSN 1329-8062

Published and Authorised by:
Department of Primary Industries
1 Spring Street
Melbourne, Victoria

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. 

The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication