May Deadline For BJD Comment

April 21, 2015

Cattle producers have until May 3 to comment on a recently released discussion paper that will help determine the future of Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) management in Australia.

Animal Health Australia (AHA) is co-ordinating a National BJD Review on behalf of industry and government and is seeking submissions from all interested parties.

“We welcome assistance from the general public and, specifically, interested cattle producers in helping to answer some of the questions that will eventually contribute to the repositioning of how Johne’s disease in cattle is dealt with into the future,” AHA Executive Manager of Biosecurity Duncan Rowland said.

“The 108 attendees at the recent BJD forum, held on February 16 in Sydney, were clear that they want to see a single, national approach that works across all cattle industry sectors including beef, stud, feedlot and dairy.

“Submissions on the discussion paper will be received from any interested parties up to midnight on May 3, with all submissions being made public, unless otherwise requested, and placed on the review’s webpage.

“The submissions will be used by the review’s reference panel to progress the development of the review and the development of a national approach.”

Mr Rowland said the reference panel would meet on May 15 to review the submissions and progress the development of the new plan.

Once a draft plan has been developed it will also go out for public comment.