Features WHAT IS JD? JD is a wasting disease that affects various species of animal including cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas. JD affects the animal by reducing the amount of nutrients it can absorb from food, resulting in wasting and eventual death. Australia is privileged in the sense that we have relatively little cases of JD compared to many other developed agricultural countries. SO WHAT CHANGED? In February 2016, a new national approach was announced that included: • • the removal of zoning around Australia the ceasing of quarantining properties as a control measure • a move to a market-driven approach where producers undertake practices dependant on their situation and market requirements. The approach was endorsed by the cattle industry and state governments and focussed on managing on-farm biosecurity risks, rather than controlling the disease through regulation. Justin Toohey, CCA’s Animal Health, Welfare, Biosecurity and Environment Advisor provided a deeper insight into the rationale behind the changes. “The previous approach had significant government involvement and intervention, especially when a JD positive animal was found. When this happened, the property would be quarantined at great financial and psychological cost to the producer. Under the new system, producers can still trade even if JD is found on their property,” said Mr Toohey. The national approach to JD management treats the disease as one of many that producers must manage within their business. As a result, the J-BAS system was introduced, which allows producers to communicate to buyers of their cattle what JD risk they believe is present. J-BAS is a voluntary, selfassessed score that requires an on-farm biosecurity plan to be in place on the property. The score you give your cattle is based on the likelihood of any previous exposure to JD and your preparedness in managing risks. The J-BAS is just one of a wide range of tools developed for producers to help them manage JD in cattle including: • templates for the on-farm biosecurity plan • the Cattle Health Declaration • the J-BAS Scoring system chart • JD biosecurity checklist • a comprehensive FAQ about JD in Cattle. WA and the NT have maintained a more regulated approach for any producers looking to transport cattle into the area. WA have an entry requirement of J-BAS 8 (J-BAS 7 if you’re transporting from Queensland) whilst transporting cattle through the NT requires a minimum J-BAS score of 6. 12 THE LINK AUT/WIN 18 For further information visit: • Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA - www.agric.wa.gov.au • Department of Primary Industry and Resources NT - www.nt.gov.au HOW DO THESE CHANGES FIT WITH OTHER PROGRAMS? The commonality between the changes to JD management and the LPA program is that they share the need for a biosecurity plan, are market-driven and both are voluntary. In the transition from deregulation of JD management to the LPA program, producers were required to complete an on-farm biosecurity plan by 1 October 2017. If you had already completed the on-farm biosecurity plan as part of your JD risk assessment, you were not required to complete a new one for LPA accreditation.
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