Johne's Disease Present in Herd for Many Years
AUSTRALIA - The recent outbreak of Bovine Johne's Disease (BJD) in Queensland is thought to have been affecting a beef herd for many years, according to Queesnalnd Chief Veterinary Officer, Rick Symons.The statement released by Mr Symons has been described by the Australian Beef Association (ABA)as a 'miscevious afterthought' due to the nature of BJD making the source of infection is hard to clarify.
The ABA have been encouraged by Biosecurity Queensland in their actions to help plan to manage and control the disease. Tasmanian and Victorian producers are quite capable of providing advice to avoid a 'slash and burn' remedy.
The Australian Beef Association demands the reconciliation report of every individual National Livestock Identification Scheme tag attached to cattle dispatched from this property to be made public.
Incoming AgForce Cattle Board President, Howard Smith, said while there is no scientific evidence
the disease poses risk to human health it did create some management issues for the cattle industry.
“It is very rare for BJD to be detected in Queensland as we are a Protected Zone under the National
Bovine Johne’s Disease Plan which has worked well in the past to manage and prevent the disease,”
Mr Smith said.
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