Market Assurance Programs (MAPs)

Search for MAP Assessed Herds or Flocks or MAP Approved Veterinarians Search for MAP assessed herds or flocks near you. Contact a MAP approved veterinarian. State Coordinator access to the database.

What are Market Assurance Programs?

The Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Programs (MAPs) are a key strategy in the control of Johne’s disease in Australia. MAPs are voluntary programs for producers which enable them to identify and promote their negative Johne’s disease status to their clients. Herds and flocks in the MAP are not accredited as free of Johne’s disease, but they have a low risk of being infected compared to Non-Assessed herds and flocks. Producers can minimise the spread of Johne’s disease by sourcing replacement animals from MAP assessed herds or flocks.

The following MAPs are operating in Australia:

• AlpacaMAP – Alpaca industry
• GoatMAP – Goat industry
• CattleMAP – Beef and dairy industries
• SheepMAP – Sheepmeat and wool industries

Herds or flocks participating in the MAPs are tested to determine their disease status and managed to reduce the risk of infection. Over four years, these herds or flocks are able to progress from Monitored Negative 1 (MN1) through to Monitored Negative 3 (MN3) status – the highest level of assurance. The longer a herd or flock is in the MAP and the higher the status, the greater the confidence that it is not infected.

More specifically, MAPs are designed to:

• provide a pool of low risk replacement animals for those herd and flock owners who want to reduce the risk of introducing infection, including properties restocking as part of an Enhanced Property Disease Management Plan (EPDMP.)
• allow individual flocks and herds in high prevalence areas to demonstrate their low-risk status so that they can sell replacement animals,
• facilitate the movement of low-risk animals between Zones.

The MAPs provide breeders with a clear way of assuring clients that their herds or flocks have been assessed for Johne’s disease in a way that is recognised nationally, and that they are being managed to protect them from Johne’s disease

Why do we need MAPs?

Johne’s disease has a long incubation, usually of several years. Most infected animals do not show the typical signs of the disease during their lifetimes, even though they may be shedding bacteria and infecting other animals. A Non-Assessed (NA) status in a Control Zone or Residual Zone means that the herd or flock has not been assessed for Johne’s disease. The once common certification that “Johne’s disease is not known or suspected to occur in this herd or flock” is of little value on its own.

Current tests have limited ability to detect individual infected animals, especially when they are young or have only been recently infected. Most replacement animals are bought when they are young, so testing them at that time gives very little confidence that they are not infected. That is why the MAPs rely on repeat testing of large numbers of adult animals to determine the status of the herd or flock.

In the absence of an objective assessment, like the MAP, vendors can give little assurance about the Johne’s status of their animals. A vendor may have no idea that his or her herd or flock is infected and may continue to sell bulls and heifers, and rams and ewes, putting clients at risk of joining the lists of Johne’s infected properties.

How to join the MAP

1. Download the MAP Information Brochure and read more about the program. MAP Information Brochure
2. Contact your local veterinarian and confirm they are approved to supervise your property.
   All veterinarians offering MAP services must meet requirements set by the Chief Veterinary Officer in your state. Veterinarians who have met all the requirements are issued with a certificate by the Chief Veterinary Officer. An online training program is available to assist veterinarians meet these requirements.
3. Download the appropriate manual from the website. If you prefer, you can order a printed manual or a CD version using the MAP manual order form.
4. Arrange to have your vet prepare a property risk assessment and carry out initial testing.
5. Provide a one-off joining fee of $100 to your veterinarian for submission with the Status Notification Form to your state MAP coordinator. The fee is payable to your state Department of Primary Industries (or Agriculture as appropriate).
6. Arrange audits as required by the MAP program.

Prior to entering an agreement with a producer to supervise the MAP program, veterinarians must be approved by the state Chief Veterinary Officer. To find out more, please contact your state MAP Coordinator. To find out more about the veterinarian’s role in the MAP please view the MAP Veterinary Guidelines.

Audits and the MAP Program

Producers who participate in the MAP program are required to arrange an annual review (internal audit) of their property and flock and herd. The annual review is undertaken by the supervising veterinarian and will identify ways in which the implementation of the MAP can be improved.

The MAP program also requires producers to have an external review (audit) once every three years, and Animal Health Australia will contact producers when it is due. Producers should contact a quality auditor and arrange to have the external review completed. The cost of the audit is met by the producer, however, beef cattle and goat producers can apply for a $330 (GST inclusive) rebate on the cost of the external review (audit) once every three years.

The following quality auditors have attended an information session about the MAPs. The MAP audit may be completed at the same time as an LPA1 or LPA2 audit.

You can find a list of auditors and a copy of the rebate form in the following files.

• AHA MAP Auditors List Updated September 2011
• Audit Rebate Form Beef Cattle and Goats
• MAP Auditor Guidelines

MAP Manual Downloads

• CattleMAP Manual
• SheepMAP Manual
• GoatMAP Manual
• AlpacaMAP Manual

MAP Gate Signs and Logo

Once you are enrolled in the MAP you can obtain free gate signs and use the MAP logo for commercial purposes (e.g. sales catalogues). To request gate signs please complete and return the JDMAP gate sign order form.

To applt to use the MAP logo to promote your herd or flock please view the Rules Governing the Use of the MAP Logo and download, complete and return the  MAP logo Authorisation Form.

Further Information

• MAP manual order form
• MAP Information Brochure
• MAP Veterinary Guidelines

To obtain multiple copies of the MAP Information Brochure please download the Publication and Material Order Form and send it back via email or fax.

Show Health Declaration Forms

Show health declaration forms are available from the farmbiosecurity.com.au toolkit.

Show, Sale and Exhibition venue audit

Show, sale and exhibition audit forms are available from the farmbiosecurity.com.au toolkit.

Page Updated: 25 January 2011