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BJD backdown
7 Nov 2003
Cattle producers have welcomed the opening up of bovine Johne's disease risk assessment trading in Victoria and Tasmania. Animal Health Australia has approved trial sales in which cattle declared to have been in strict isolation from the dairy industry in Victoria and Tasmania may be sold into the protected zones of NSW and South Australia. The present restrictions prevent cattle from the control zone of Victoria being sold into protected zones.
The first trial sale will be held in Euroa on January 23, 2004, and be the first test of the new "beef only" category. No BJD test will be required to sell the new category, only a written vendor declaration is necessary. The cattle will also be traced through the national livestock identification scheme.
Cattle Council BJD spokesman Nick Keatinge said the decision is a great outcome for the beef industry, whose traditional trading patterns have been disrupted due to a disease only present in a few beef herds. Don Lawson of the Australian Johne's Alliance said the move does not go far enough, as zones should be completely removed.
Stock & Land, 6/11/03.
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