The OJD Management Plan 2007-2012

The Ovine Johne’s Disease Management Plan (OJDMP) is a significant component of the National Johne’s Disease Control Program (NJDCP). The NJDCP is a special program, funded by industry. The program is coordinated by Animal Health Australia to ensure the response to Johne’s disease by jurisdictions and industries continues to protect Australia’s favourable Johne’s disease status and reduces the impact of disease and control measures on the affected industries.

The Ovine Johne’s Disease Management Plan (OJDMP) is the culmination of extended consultations between WoolProducers Australia, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, state departments of primary industry and other stakeholders and seeks to further encourage producers to undertake risk assessments prior to the purchase of stock, in addition to controlling OJD through vaccination and on-farm management practices.

In seeking to establish a viable long-term approach to the management of ovine Johne’s disease (OJD), industry has determined that the principal aims of the OJDMP should be:

• To minimise the risk to properties and geographic regions which currently appear disease free, and actively manage incursions when they occur;
• Reduce the area prevalence in regions where the disease is endemic through the use of vaccine and the implementation of grazing management practices to minimise the exposure of stock to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis subsp. avium (Mptb);
• Promote the benefits of active biosecurity planning at the individual property and regional level as a means of managing disease risk;
• Provide improved trading opportunities for producers who actively manage the disease through the use of the Assurance Based Credit (ABC) Scheme.

This business plan incorporates the following activities:

1. Prevalence Area determination
2. Points allocation
3. Abattoir Monitoring
4. Communication
5. Research and Development
6. Program Coordination and Evaluation

WoolProducers Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia have developed a program to provide a sustainable basis for the management and control of OJD in Australia. The OJDMP involves a rationalisation of existing prevalence areas from four prevalence areas to three prevalence areas and a subsequent change in ABC points allocated to each prevalence area.  Risk based trading and sufficient abattoir surveillance to underpin the ABC Scheme are seen as important aspects to the successful continuation of the program. WoolProducers Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia have also agreed to provide further funding for OJD research, and have identified a need for an ongoing communication program.

A management committee comprising representatives from WoolProducers Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia, other key stakeholders nominated by the national sheep industry, and Animal Health Australia will meet six monthly to receive management reports and to provide general advice about the Program.

To find out more about the operational aspects of ovine Johne’s disease management visit www.ojd.com.au and see the Communication Centre to learn more about the recent changes to the Management Plan.

Page Updated: 10 July 2009