National Johne's Disease Control Program (NJDCP)

What is the NJDCP?

The NJDCP aims to assist the livestock industries reduce the spread and impact of Johne's disease in Australia. It is a cooperative program involving Australian livestock industries, government and the veterinary profession. Animal Health Australia manages the program on behalf of these key stakeholders.

Controlling Johne's disease involves limiting its spread between areas and properties and reducing the impact in affected herds. The NJDCP aims to achieve this through coordination of projects in market assurance, disease control, research, communication and information, training and extension and diagnostic methods.

The key components of the NJDCP are:

• Development of National Guidelines and Standard Definitions and Rules (SDRs) for zoning, inter-zone movement controls and official disease control programs in the respective states.

• The voluntary Australian Johne's Disease Market Assurance Program to identify, protect and promote individual herds and flocks that are objectively assessed as having a low risk of being infected.

• The Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedures for Johne's Disease.

Market Assurance Programs

A key strategy in the control of Johne's disease in Australia is the Market Assurance Programs. These are voluntary programs for producers which enable them to identify and promote their JD status to their clients. Industry can minimise the spread of JD by sourcing replacement animals from these assessed herds. Current MAPs available are:

• CattleMAP
• SheepMAP
• GoatMAP
• AlpacaMAP

Herds or flocks participating in the MAP are tested to determine their disease status and managed to reduce the risk of their becoming infected. Over time, herds and flocks are able to progress through different levels of assurance.

If a herd or flock is found to be infected, then appropriate management procedures can be implemented to begin control or eradication of the infection. Disease control programs for known infected herds and flocks vary from state to state. For more information on MAPs check out the MAP section of this website or contact your state Agriculture Department for details on the Johne's disease control programs in your State.

National Guidelines and Standard Definitions and Rules (SDRs)

The Standard Definitions and Rules for bovine and ovine Johne's disease are the agreed national standards for the disease control programs. The original Standard Definitions and Rules for bovine Johne's disease were developed in 1997. The current version is Version 6 and is available for download National Johnes Disease Program - Standard Definitions and Rules for Cattle (423 KB) . The Ovine Johne's disease Standard Definitions and Rules were first endorsed in 1998 and have been renamed the  Guidelines for the Implementation of Assurance Based OJD Management in Sheep. Version 4 is now available for download  Guidelines for the Implementation of Assurance Based Ovine Johne’s Disease Management in Sheep (102 KB) .

Standard Diagnostic Procedures for Johne's Disease

Maintenance of high quality techniques for diagnosis of Johne's disease is a critical component of the NJDCP.

The initial NJDCP Management Committee  worked collaboratively to develop the Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedures for Johne's disease (ANZSDPs), which describes tests that are approved for use in Australia. The ANZSDPs are now maintained by the Sub-Committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS).

Further Information

• JD Testing - Fact Sheet
• Market Assurance Programs (MAPs)
• Johne's Disease Reports and Newsletters
• Voluntary Farm-Level Assurance for Johne's Disease (267 KB)

Page Updated: 17 March 2010