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You are here: Agriculture » Pests, Diseases and Weeds » Animal Diseases » Beef and Dairy Cows » Bovine Johnes Disease » Keeping BJD out of the Herd

Keeping Bovine Johne’s Disease Out of a Herd

Note Number: AG0915
Published: September 2005
Updated: November 2010

 

By following a few simple principles, owners can greatly minimise the risk of introducing bovine Johne’s disease (bjd) into their herd.

The principles are:

• Avoid buying infected cattle
• Minimise introduction of bjd by other means
• Prevent spread of bjd in case it has already been introduced.

Avoid buying infected cattle

Fig 1.  Insist on a bjd Vendor Declaration when purchasing cattle.

As bjd infection is estimated to be in at least 25% of Victorian dairy herds, the risk of buying infected dairy cattle is high. Although bjd is uncommon in beef herds, some risk still exists. A self-replacing herd, using only artificial insemination or embryo transfer, is the safest option. However, if cattle must be purchased, it is vital owners take all reasonable steps to avoid introducing bjd.

The safest herds to buy from are CattleMAP certified. CattleMAP is a voluntary, industry-driven, national program to identify, protect and promote herds that have a low risk of being infected with bovine Johne’s disease. Other low-risk sources of cattle include ‘Check Test’ and JDCAP (dairy) herds.

When purchasing cattle, insist on either a Beef Only Declaration, or a National Dairy bjd Assurance Score Declaration, or a declaration of the Dairy bjd Assurance Score on the National Vendor Declaration (NVD). For further information on declaration forms, refer to the following Information Notes: Vendor declarations for bjd, Beef Only or The Dairy bjd Assurance Score - the higher the score the higher the assurance.)

Purchasing stock from a ‘Non-Assessed’ or low bjd assurance dairy herd should not be taken to imply freedom from bjd - you simply don’t know whether or not bjd is present.

Minimise introduction of BJD by other means

Points to consider include:

• Minimise your risks when agisting. Do not allow contact of calves less than 12 months of age with adult cattle, regardless of their origin. (Refer to Information Note: Avoiding bovine Johne’s disease when agisting cattle)
• Boundaries should be securely fenced to keep out stray cattle.
• Drainage channels and waterways should be fenced off to prevent access by cattle.
• On-farm water sources (eg. dams with on-farm catchment, or bores) are preferable, if possible reticulated to drinking troughs.
• Insist that service personnel and contractors clean equipment and boots before entering the property.
• Deer, goats and camelids (alpacas, llamas, etc) can be infected with bjd. These species should not be allowed to contaminate pastures grazed by cattle less than 12 months old.

Prevent spread of bjd in case it has already been introduced

Bjd may be present in a herd for some years before it is detected. Dairy farmers have the opportunity to limit spread of bjd during calf rearing. This is more difficult for most beef farmers.
Safe rearing of dairy calves involves:

• Separating calves from their mothers within 12 hours of birth. Never use foster cows to rear calves.
• Rearing cattle less than 12 months old on ‘clean’ pasture. Avoid any pasture that has been contaminated by the manure of adult cattle (including effluent from the dairy) in the last 12 months.
• Preventing access of cattle less than 12 months old to potentially contaminated water (particularly dairy effluent) by appropriate sitting of calf paddocks, fencing and drainage. (Refer to Agriculture Note: Johne’s Disease Calf Accreditation Program).

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 by Dr Kit Button in November 2001 and updated by Lachlan King, Animals Health Field Services in December 2005.

This November 2010 version was reviewed by Dr David Champness, Biosecurity Victoria.