How is OJD managed in Australia

The management and control of OJD in Australia is based on the assessment of animal health risk and the application of on-farm biosecurity supported by the use of vaccine and grazing management practices aimed at creating pastures with low levels of bacterial contamination. Points are allocated according to a quantitative risk assessment based on work commissioned by Australian Wool Innovation (Quantitative assessment of the risk of ovine Johne’s disease in sheep flocks – final report) that identifies the risk factors associated with the spread of OJD. The risk factors, or risk minimisation strategies, fall into four broad categories that form the basis for the allocation of trading credits under the Assurance Based Credit Scheme(ABC).

CATEGORY A. Area and flock of Origin – The known Johne’s disease status of the flock or area in which the flock is located. Prevalence area map

CATEGORY B. OJD testing history, including flock tests for the SheepMAP, as well as Abattoir 200 and Abattoir 700 testing

CATEGORY C. Vaccination history

CATEGORY D. Risk Assessment of consignment sheep

The credits for each category are added to provide an ABC Score that can be used to assess the risk of an individual flock as well as lines of sheep offered for agistment or sale.

The ABC Scheme forms the basis of a risk based trading system for the national sheep industry. Movements of store and restocker sheep should be supported by a vendor declaration of the risk that the sheep are infected. A National Sheep Health Statement (SHS) for OJD has been developed to describe sheep, their origin and ABC score. In some circumstances its use may be mandatory for movements of sheep considered to be of high risk by individual states, where the estimate of area prevalence for the jurisdiction is very low and the consequences of infection spreading is high. The use and accuracy of Sheep Health Statements is audited and reported to stakeholders.

Vaccination, grazing management and biosecurity planning are the tools of choice for controlling disease on-farm and reducing the risk of spreading infection. The use of Gudair ® vaccine is encouraged in all prevalence areas in accordance with the requirements of state regulations. The vaccination of sheep at risk of infection will be promoted.  Vaccinated sheep are eligible for ABC points for vaccination if they are identified by a standard NLIS (Sheep) ear tag incorporating an agreed identifier, “V”.

To find out more about the ABC Scheme and the risk categories that are used to build a score, please visit www.ojd.com.au.

Page Updated: 11 March 2009