• 
• 
• 

You are here: Agriculture » Pests, Diseases and Weeds » Animal Diseases » Beef and Dairy Cows » Bovine Johnes Disease » TCP3 New Approach to Herd Testing for BJD

 
TCP3 – A Revised Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Test and Control Program for Victorian Dairy Herds

Note Number: AG1202
Published: June 2003
Updated: November 2010

This Agriculture Note describes the Victorian voluntary bovine Johne’s disease (bjd) Test and Control program (TCP3).

Background

In 1996, Victoria introduced a voluntary Test and Control Program (TCP) for herds infected with bovine Johne’s disease (bjd). The program aimed to contain the spread of the disease within and between herds and involved annual whole-herd blood testing of the adult cattle, culling of test-positive cattle (with compensation) and rearing the calves away from the manure of adult cattle. The program was delivered by private veterinary practitioners and administered by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

The TCP program has delivered significant benefits to many affected producers by reducing clinical disease in their herds and improving market access for the herds that completed the program. A revised testing program (TCP2) was introduced in 2003 to allow pathways for enhanced trading of dairy cattle and land. The program also incorporates a rigorous, externally audited, calf rearing accreditation program (JDCAP) that aims to minimise the risk of bjd transmission to calves.

The current version of the TCP program (TCP3) introduced in October 2010 is based on the preferred approach of industry stakeholder groups.

So what’s new in TCP3?

From 1 October 2010

• Any bjd Infected herd can apply to participate
• It is mandatory for dairy herds to be participating in JDCAP and hold a current JDCAP Certificate of Compliance
• Herd testing will be funded (subsidised) for cattle 4 years of age and older
• Frequency of herd testing will depend on the disease prevalence level or status of the herd. Initially herd testing will be conducted annually. Once a herd achieves Tested Low Prevalence (or better) status, herd testing will only be required (and funded) every two years.
• The approved veterinarian will be responsible for identification of test positive cattle for disposal
• Test positive cattle must be disposed from the herd within 30 days of notification of herd test results
• The approved veterinarian in consultation with the herd manager, will be responsible for the development and maintenance of a list of Johne’s disease high-risk cattle which must be disposed from the herd within specified timelines.
• Only cattle which have the equivalent or higher National Dairy bjd Assurance Score may be introduced into the dairy herd
• The funded testing program will end when herds achieve Restricted 2 (RD2) status.
• Compensation will no longer be available for clinical bjd cattle or serological (ELISA) test positive cattle.

Benefits from participation

Participation in the TCP3 will provide a pathway for allowing the sale of low-risk dairy cattle within Victoria. Low-risk dairy cattle are defined as dairy cattle that are

• JDCAP accredited (ie raised during a period of accepted hygienic calf rearing practices aimed at minimising transmission of JD) in participating herds with a tested low prevalence level of disease, and
• following epidemiological assessment, are not classed as “high-risk” dairy cattle.

The introduction of low-risk dairy cattle may occur without affecting the status of the purchaser’s herd in Victoria (Refer to Agriculture Information Note AG1201 – Enhanced Trading Options for Dairy Herds in the Victorian Johne’s disease Control Program). However, low-risk dairy cattle as defined may not be eligible for unrestricted movement interstate, into other bjd zones or into CattleMAP herds at this time.

There is a policy on sale of land now linked to participation in the TCP. For farms participating in TCP, there will be no restriction on grazing a new dairy cattle herd once Tested Low Prevalence (TLP) or better status is reached and there have been no clinical cases of bjd within 12 months of the date of sale of the land. In this situation, there is considered no “effect” on the land beyond the industry norm for farms grazing non-assessed dairy herds. Properties for sale that have grazed TCP herds which have reached TLP or better status without clinical cases for 12 months, can be sold without official (JD-related) restriction on the land. However, purchasers of any grazing land will need to ensure that the land is suitable for any specific purpose for which it is intended to be used. Studs and CattleMAP owners will need to take particular care in the selection of land for grazing (Refer to Agriculture Information Note AG1200 – Sale of Land from bjd Infected and Suspect herds).

Which herds can enter TCP3?

All Victorian herds with an Infected bjd status have been invited to participate in TCP3. They must be participating in JDCAP and hold a current Certificate of Compliance issued by their approved veterinarian. Herd owners / managers must submit a completed TCP3 application form to the DPI. Where Suspect (SU) herds test (at owner’s expense) and detect infection, the costs of that test (up to the TCP3 funded level) can be reimbursed to the farmer if they choose to enter the TCP3.

All participating herds must have JDCAP, however JDCAP may be provisional for the first year. A conditional JDCAP certificate is valid for 12 months and will not be renewed unless certain corrective actions requested by the approved veterinarian are completed in order to comply properly with the calf rearing conditions of the program.

What testing will be required

The ELISA serological test on a blood sample (collected by your approved veterinarian) will be used for herd testing. An animal in a known bjd infected herd that has a positive ELISA test result is a test positive animal and will be classified as a bjd infected animal. There is no further testing requirements of test ELISA positive animals. Cattle developing clinical signs of bjd must be reported to your approved veterinarian. These clinical animals may be sampled to confirm bjd, but it is not a requirement under the program

Frequency of Herd testing

Herd tests are to be conducted annually (or every second year if you prefer) until the herd achieves Tested Low Prevalence (TLP). Once herds achieve TLP status (or better) funded herd testing will only be available every two years.

Age of cattle to be tested

All cattle 4 years of age and older are to be sampled (tested) under the funded TCP3 program. Cattle 2 and 3 years off age may be tested at the herd owner’s expense.

How much does it cost?

The TCP3 program is funded by the Victorian Cattle Compensation Fund with monies generated from livestock duties. Subsidisation of the funded program administered by DPI will be limited to the agreed amount for:

• Veterinary fees for the collection and submission of herd samples from cattle 4 years of age and older, and the required veterinary activity following herd testing.
• Annual veterinary fee for advice to the herd owner / manager relating to Johne’s disease control, the updating of the list of high-risk animals and the supply of written annual reports.
• Laboratory cost for annual / biennial (as applicable) herd testing of animals 4 years of age and older.
• Laboratory cost for confirmation of bjd in any clinical animals sampled.

These veterinary fees are payable by DPI directly to the approved veterinarian. DPI will pay the laboratory directly. The herd owner / manager will be responsible for payment to the engaged veterinarian for any fees over and above the funded fee. Herd owners / managers should discuss their individual circumstances with their veterinarian and whether there is likely to be any additional veterinary fees above the funded program fees.

Veterinary fees for the annual JDCAP audit are payable by the herd owner. The herd owner may claim from DPI, up to a maximum rebate of $250 by way of lodgement of a completed JDCAP claim form.

What happens to the animals that test positive?

Animals that test positive to the blood test must be removed from the herd within 30 days of written notification of herd test results from your veterinarian. These test positive cattle must be disposed for slaughter only direct to an abattoir, knackery or on-farm. Cattle showing signs consistent with Johne’s disease must not be sent to an abattoir for slaughter for human consumption; they must be either disposed direct to a knackery or on-farm in accordance with EPA requirements.

How long do I have to test?

Participation in the TCP3 program is voluntary and herd owners may withdraw from the program at any time. The funded testing program ceases once herds achieve RD2 status. However, even before this target is achieved, herds that demonstrate low levels of bjd infection through testing and have calves reared under JDCAP, will have greater trading opportunities. Under the National Rules, RD2 status is given when a herd achieves 2 negative tests 2 years apart (and all test positive and primary high-risk cattle have been culled from the herd).

Further information

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

Acknowledgements

This Agriculture Note was developed by Dr Tristan Jubb in June 2003 and reviewed by Lachlan King in December 2005. This November 2010 version was updated by Dr David Champness, Biosecurity Victoria.