A risk rating system for the goat industry

A risk rating scheme for Johne’s disease was introduced in February 2009. The scheme can be  used when trading goats in Australia. Goats to be moved or sold can now be covered by a National Goat Health Statement that will include the risk rating- the higher the rating the more assurance you will have to protect your goats Johne’s disease status.  The National Goat Health Statement will assist producers clearly identify the animal health status of goats offered for sale.

What is the risk rating?

The risk rating scheme is a nationally agreed method of assessing the risk that goats have Johne’s disease.

It builds on knowledge and hard-gained experience in other industries to help goat producers reduce the risk of their herds becoming infected with Johne’s disease. It also provides a pathway for owners of infected herds to improve their trading position by gaining trading credits through the use of a range of management tools.

On-farm management, through vaccination and grazing strategies will lower the risk of Johne’s disease spreading in goat herds and to  the sheep and cattle industries should the infection be present or be unintentionally introduced. The combination of on-farm management and risk based trading is the best strategy identified by industry to minimise the impact of Johne’s disease.

Indentifying the risk.

All goat sellers are able to declare their goats ‘risk rating’ in writing on the National Goat Health Statement.

Goat buyers should make sure they obtain this information for any consignments they are interested in buying and learn what the rating information on it means for them. Buyers themselves can then determine the risk those goats present to their own herd, by relating the rating of the goats offered for sale to their own herds rating, and determining whether they want to take that risk.

Know your rating.

Under the risk rating scheme, a goat producer can claim credits for his or her goats under two categories. These are:

Section A: Indentifies the Johne’s disease status of the herd.

Section B: Identifies strategies to improve herd status.

The rating assigned under each category is based on a qualitative risk assessment.

So, by buying goats with a high  rating you can greatly reduce the risk that you will buy in Johne’s disease.

Keep these points in mind

• Johne’s disease can cost producers money in deaths and lost production as well as interfering with marketing restocker goats.
• Use the risk rating scheme to take steps to reduce the risk that your goats become infected or infect other people’s herds and to improve your trading options.
• Check the risk rating status of any goats you’re interested in buying and ask to see the National Goat Health Statement before you agree to buy. If you’re confident in the declaration, buy goats with a high rating.

Just follow these three steps when purchasing goats:

1. Ask for a National Goat Health Statement and only consider buying the goats if you’re happy with it.

2. Buy goats with an equal or higher rating than your own herd’s rating.

3. Check the back of the Goat Health Statement to see how the declared risk rating was attained.

The higher the rating the lower the risk.