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Assurance Based Credits (ABC) Scheme and the Sheep Health Statement

Note Number: AG1156
Published: October 2007
Updated: January 2011

 

The Assurance Based Credits (ABC) Scheme forms the basis of the national approach to the management of Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD).  This Agriculture Note provides information on how the ABC Scheme operates in Victoria, and on use of the Sheep Health Statement (SHS).

ABC Scheme for OJD

The ABC Scheme enables a producer with an affected flock, who responsibly manages the disease using vaccination, testing and/or culling, to enhance their trading ability through the production of low risk sheep. The scheme also assists all producers to reduce the risk of introducing OJD into their flocks when purchasing replacement sheep.

The ABC Scheme involves providing an ABC score for consigned sheep up to a score of 10. The ABC score is based on

• location of the flock
• testing for OJD
• vaccination against OJD
• risk assessment.
  

The higher the ABC score, the lower the risk that sheep are infected, and the greater the assurance provided to the purchaser of sheep.

Flocks that are not known to be or suspected of being infected with OJD are entitled to credit points based on the location of the flock. From 1 January 2011, Victoria has two Prevalence Areas, a Medium Prevalence Area from which flocks are entitled to 2 credits, and a High Prevalence Area from which flocks are entitled to 0 credit points in Category A of the ABC score. These credits contribute to the ABC Score.

The Medium Prevalence Area includes 9 shires in the west of the State: Mildura, West Wimmera, Glenelg, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Gannawarra, Yarriambiack, Buloke and Swan Hill.  The remainder of Victoria is a High Prevalence Area.

Flocks that are infected or suspected of being infected are not eligible for credits for location (i.e. in Category A of the ABC score).  However, owners of these flocks can work their way towards producing low-risk sheep with a higher ABC score. This can be done using vaccination and testing strategies. All sheep with the same ABC score provide a similar assurance irrespective of how the score is comprised. Producers are discouraged from purchasing sheep that have a lower ABC score than their own flock.

Sheep Health Statement

The Sheep Health Statement (SHS) is a nationally agreed and developed document which provides the basis for the ABC Scheme.  The vendor of sheep provides, to potential purchasers, a Sheep Health Statement showing the ABC score of the consigned sheep. The SHS also contains a section in which the seller may provide information about footrot, lice, ovine brucellosis and other health information.

The SHS should be completed and signed by the vendor or person responsible for the husbandry of the sheep. Stock agents cannot sign the declaration on behalf of their clients. If a seller makes a false or misleading statement on the SHS penalties apply under The Stock (Seller Liability and Declarations) Act 1993, in addition to potential liability under fair trading legislation.

Further information

Copies of the Sheep Health Statement and further information can be obtained from animal health staff at your local DPI office or on the DPI website: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/farming/ojd or the national program website http://www.ojd.com.au.

Acknowledgements

This Information Note was originally developed by Andrew Cameron.

It was reviewed by:

Ian McClaren, March 2008.

David Champness, Animal Heath Field Services. November 2009.

Iain McLaren, Biosecurity Victoria. January 2011.