Johne’s disease in cattle FAQ

Transitional arrangements were put in place from 2016 until mid-2018 to help producers shift to the J-BAS tool.  Those transitional arrangements have now expired.  For the JD Dairy Score, a transition arrangement is in place unit 30 September 2019.

Initially, all beef herds were given a transition score based on the old zoning system. Herds in NSW, Qld, NT and northern SA were given a transition score of J-BAS 7, as were herds known as Beef Only. All herds in WA were given a transition score of J-BAS 8. These transition scores could be maintained by implementing a biosecurity plan (signed by their veterinarian) and submitting Check test samples by 30 June 2018 with clear results.

Herds which have a biosecurity plan, no clinical case of JD within the last five years but not undertaken a Check test are eligible for a default J-BAS of 6.

Herds which have had a clinical case of JD within the last five years are not eligible for the default score of 6 and transitioned to a score 0, 2 or 4 depending on the time since the last clinical case and what’s been done since.

J-BAS is a voluntary self-declaration. There is no central authority signing off on plans; however buyers, markets and jurisdictions with entry requirements may request a copy of your Cattle Health Declaration, on-farm biosecurity plan and test results.

A number of biosecurity plan options are available that meet both the J-BAS and LPA requirements (e.g. ‘On-farm Biosecurity Plan Workbook’, or the ‘On-Farm Biosecurity Template’ available on AHA and Farm Biosecurity websites, or the Australian Cattle Vet’s ‘BioCheck’). To meet J-BAS requirements any plan can be used, provided it addresses the minimum standards set by the National Farm Biosecurity Reference Manual for Grazing Livestock Production and it includes the JD in Cattle Biosecurity Checklist.

To meet the requirements of LPA, as a minimum each Property Identification Code (PIC) must have a formal, documented Farm Biosecurity Plan that addresses each of the following: (a) Manage and record the introduction and movement of livestock in a way that minimises the risk of introducing and/or spreading infectious diseases; (b) Where reasonable and practicable, control people, equipment and vehicles entering the property, thus minimising the potential for property contamination and, if possible, keep a record of such movements; and (c) Prevent and control animal diseases on-farm by regularly monitoring and managing livestock.

The scores are based on the likelihood of a herd’s previous exposure to JD and a producer’s preparedness in managing risks. The score sheet can be found here

Most beef herds in Australia, which will have a biosecurity plan in place to meet LPA requirements and for which a clinical case of JD in the previous 5 years is unlikely, will be eligible for a score of 6.  A higher score can be used once testing requirements have been met.  Some beef herds have used the transitional arrangements, a biosecurity plan and testing to be eligible for score of 7 (or 8 in WA).  The score for a herd which has had a clinical case in the past 5 years will be determined according to the score sheet.

Many producers may decide that they do not need a score if JD is of little to no interest to their business. As an example, producers who only buy, fatten and sell young cattle for slaughter have no commercial reason to run a JD management program. Others, like holders of breeding cattle or suppliers of cattle to other producers or for live export, should want to protect their property and herd against becoming infected with JD.

If you are a producer who accesses the WA market or NT market, or are likely to sell cattle to a producer who does, you should aim to meet their entry requirements. You may wish to consult your buyers or agent for their views, remembering the final decision rests with you. Producers should remain JD aware if they intend to access the live export trade.

The biosecurity plan, the veterinary engagement and testing for J-BAS 7 (and J-BAS 8 to a greater extent) show that the property is unlikely to be infected.

A score of 6 indicates that a biosecurity plan is in place and there has been no detected clinical case in the preceding 5 years, but the producer has chosen not to engage a vet or request assurance testing of the herd.  As a broad measure, the lower the J-BAS, the higher the risk of JD infection.

This is a national framework that no longer recognises the former regional differences in risk, so a J-BAS 6 herd which is bringing in other J-BAS 6 animals is accepting that level of risk across Australia.

For beef herds to progress to or regain J-BAS 7, a biosecurity plan signed by a veterinary advisor and a Sample Test (210-300 samples, depending on herd size) with clear results are minimum requirements.

For J-BAS 7 and 8, your biosecurity plan must be overseen and signed by a veterinarian and have undertaken a Sample test (or Check test under the previous transitional arrangements) with negative results. Without veterinary oversight of a plan you will not be eligible for scores 7 or 8. It is not intended for the vet to audit the plan, merely sign to say they’ve explained disease-related biosecurity risks to you. For anything below J-BAS 7, or for biosecurity planning generally, it is wise but not essential to consult a vet.

Introducing cattle with a lower score may affect your J-BAS unless you are confident that the source herd is low risk and well managed under good biosecurity practices. Introduced animals can be addressed with the biosecurity plan and handled through actions like monitoring them for signs of illness, keeping them separate from vulnerable young cattle on the property and/or testing them (especially if a J-BAS 7 and 8 where testing is required). Introductions for J-BAS 7 and 8 herds should be discussed with the veterinary advisor before purchasing the animals. Herds selling cattle to WA will need to check with the WA Department for entry requirements.

Examples of ways that small numbers of lower-score cattle may be introduced and managed without affecting the J-BAS score, subject to discussion with your veterinarian, are:

• Lower-score bulls may be isolated and collected for artificial insemination (AI) without exposing at-risk animals to their higher risk. This option is not likely to be practical for commercial properties which want an introduced bull to be out working in the breeder paddocks, but may be applied for studs.
• Isolate lower-score females (including progeny) as a separate herd.
• Test introduced lower-score bulls or females at regular intervals by faecal testing (not ELISA blood testing). Although this testing can never prove the animals are not infected, consistently negative results can show that the animals are unlikely to have been excreting to spread infection, and so co-grazing breeders and progeny are unlikely to have been exposed.  The cost and inconvenience of this monitoring should be part of the cost-benefit assessment that you make before embarking on this strategy.  This does carry a risk of detection of excretion in the lower-status animals, in which case the J-BAS of the in-contact herd would be affected.
• Introduce only a small number of lower-score cattle (maximum of 5% of the herd) and specifically include them in the regular Check Testing. This strategy was acceptable practice in the former CattleMAP.

Cattle which have been introduced from a lower-score herd should not be assigned the J-BAS of their new herd for re-sale.

Vaccination does have a role to play, particularly with sheep and goats. Gudair® is available for widespread use in the sheep industry and Silirum® is useful in some circumstances within the cattle (particularly dairy) sector. Please note, the use of Gudair® is not permitted in cattle and the use of Silirum® vaccine in cattle is not permitted in Western Australia at present.

Both forms of vaccine have been shown to reduce shedding (bacteria being spread through the faeces of infected livestock) and mortalities from JD. While vaccination doesn’t kill the bacteria, it does reduce their impact, particularly with sheep. Vaccine is the most effective tool available for managing the disease in sheep. Sheep flocks being ‘approved vaccinates’* would mean that the risk of JD spreading from sheep to cattle on the property is low.

In deciding the J-BAS for your cattle, producers should consider the management of JD in all livestock species on the property and particularly take into account when the last clinical case occurred on the property in any species. For example, utilising a vaccination program in sheep on the property should be seen as positive in that it reduces the risk of cross-infection to cattle. Also, if no clinical case has occurred within the last five years and an on-farm biosecurity plan has been implemented (without the need for a vet), a producer can give the herd a J-BAS of 6. On the other hand, if a clinical case has occurred in any species over two years but less than five years ago, a J-BAS of 4 can be applied, provided other conditions are met (see the J-BAS chart).

* Approved Vaccinate:  A sheep that is identified by an NLIS (sheep) ‘V’ tag and is:

• vaccinated with an approved OJD vaccine by 16 weeks of age, or
• vaccinated with an approved OJD vaccine after 16 weeks of age, when the flock:
  • was in the SheepMAP, or
  • had undertaken a negative Faecal 350 test in the two years preceding the vaccination, or
  • had a Negative Abattoir 500 status at the time of vaccination.

Having a J-BAS is voluntary; however producers should consider the benefits of a J-BAS as a tool for managing JD risk and apply it according to the needs of their operation.

If you choose to have a J-BAS, it would only be for your cattle. This said, it’s important all susceptible species on your property are managed for JD (and other important diseases) because JD can spread from species to species.

For the cattle sector, the J-BAS is in place. For sheep there is a variety of tools in place for management of JD on farm including SheepMAP, property biosecurity plans and abattoir monitoring for producers wanting to test their sheep.

Both programs are industry owned and managed and require producers to be responsible for the health and wellbeing of their own livestock.

Each program includes a range of useful tools, including vaccines and Animal Health Declarations.

Cattle are at minimal risk of contracting JD from sheep on the same property if these sheep are covered by a JD vaccination program (i.e. all retained sheep are approved vaccinates).

The goat and alpaca industries also have tools in place to help manage JD and other endemic diseases.

As JD affects all susceptible species, a clinical case in sheep has to be considered when deciding a J-BAS for cattle from the same property. Please refer to the J-BAS chart for information on how the J-BAS is decided when taking into account recent clinical cases across species.

As an example, if you had a sheep diagnosed with clinical JD three years ago but nothing since, and you have commenced a Gudair® vaccination program in your sheep, you can give your cattle a J-BAS of 4 provided you have an on-farm biosecurity plan in place and meet all other requirements (like identifying and removing all high-risk animals).

As another example, if a clinical case has occurred in any species on the property in the last two years, a J-BAS of 2 can be used provided there is an on-farm biosecurity plan in place and all clinical cases have been removed.

If producers wish, they can implement strategies to manage their cattle herds up to a higher J-BAS by following the guide set out in the J-BAS chart.

The risk of transferring JD from a milker is very low.  First the milker has to be infected and shedding and then has to graze consistently with beef cattle, which is rarely the case. Nevertheless, it should be considered when working out risk.

Quarantining introduced livestock away from resident livestock for a period of several weeks is good biosecurity practice and is strongly encouraged. Unfortunately for JD though, the bacteria can live in the gut of livestock for years before the animals show symptoms, so quarantining is usually of no benefit for JD management.

The only cases where quarantine may be usefully applied for JD are isolating and testing of short-term cattle with lower score but having other values (such as stud bulls or recipient heifers).

First, it’s important to have the vendor provide you with a Cattle Health Declaration (CHD) on which the J-BAS self-assessment (if there is one) is written. The CHD is a legal document and must contain only truthful statements.

Second, the owner who is selling the cattle nominates the J-BAS.  If the buyer has concerns around JD, it’s vital they are satisfied with the information on the CHD and, if needed, should contact the seller to ask further questions around how the livestock have been managed. This information will help the buyer when assessing JD risk from the cattle being purchased.

Buyers should ideally buy from herds with an equivalent or higher J-BAS. Small percentages of cattle could be introduced from a lower-score herd, but would need to be managed within the property biosecurity plan, which might involve keeping them separate from young cattle on the property and including them in any testing that occurs (required for higher J-BAS levels). Introductions of lower scored cattle into J-BAS 7 and 8 herds should be discussed with the veterinary advisor before the cattle are purchased. Introducing large numbers of lower-score animals would affect the score and should be factored in when deciding the J-BAS.

The time cattle spend in a saleyard is of little significance when assessing risk.  JD is usually brought onto a property through introducing animals with the infection. As cattle spend little time at saleyards and don’t graze there, they are a very low risk for the spread of JD, except through purchase of animals that became infected on their original source properties. A buyer interested in avoiding the introduction of JD should ask the seller for the J-BAS of the beef cattle (or Dairy Score of dairy cattle), as well as other animal health information. This may be available on a Cattle Health Declaration (CHD). Buyers should request a CHD from vendors and ask additional questions to be sure any risks from JD are well understood.

Most beef properties in Australia are J-BAS 6, with many studs, especially those consigning to WA, being J-BAS 7.

Saleyard operators may wish to protect the score 6 and 7 cattle from risk from score 0, 2 and 4 cattle, such as by requiring a CHD for all cattle and isolating 0, 2 and 4 cattle and afterwards cleaning their pens.  This should be logistically manageable for most sites, as few consignments of low-score beef cattle would be expected.

The movement of J-BAS 7 or 8 cattle through saleyards may affect their eligibility to meet WA entry requirements.

The risk of transmission of JD from one animal to another at shows is very low.  The most important JD transmission route is from cow to calf through infected milk or drinking from a contaminated udder.  JD is less commonly transmitted to vulnerable young cattle when grazing infected pastures.  In a show situation cattle are not grazing together and are mostly tethered and hand fed, so the risk of transmission is extremely low.  Cattle and especially calves should be kept away from the manure of other cattle. Biosecurity protocols should be incorporated into exhibition guidelines to prevent transmission of all livestock diseases (some of which are much more easily transmitted than JD at shows).

An exhibitor can indicate their cattle have a particular J-BAS by filling out the optional J-BAS section on the Cattle Health Declaration (CHD) on entry to the show, if the exhibition organiser requested a CHD be part of the show entry requirements.  While CHDs are voluntary, they can be requested and the answers given must be truthful.

Although not mandatory under the JD program, a CHD should be requested by producers to assess the health information about the animals they may wish to buy. Some states/territories have mandated its use for cattle entering their jurisdiction (WA, NT, and SA). It is recommended that the CHD be supplied by the vendor and requested by the buyer for all cattle sales. You can find the form here

While a J-BAS is the most useful tool for letting buyers know the JD-risk level in cattle, it isn’t the whole story. Buyers should ask questions of the seller (there’s a JD checklist available to guide this questioning) and take into account what type of JD management the seller is using across all livestock on the source property.

As an example, if:  cattle and sheep are grazed on a property; all species are monitored for JD; the producer is engaged in managing OJD, e.g., through the use of Gudair® vaccine with sheep – then the risk of having JD in cattle is low. If there have been no clinical cases of JD in any species on the property for over five years, a J-BAS of 6 can be applied to the cattle provided other conditions such as having an on-farm biosecurity plan are met (see the J-BAS chart).

For cattle, calves are most at risk of becoming infected with JD, so buyers should take into account the scores for the properties on which cattle were born and raised, not just the last or current property.

The industry management system relies on the integrity of producers, especially as presented in J-BAS claims and health declarations.  If you’re concerned about the correctness or completeness of a declared status, you can ask for evidence to support the claim.

Yes, it is suitable for LPA accreditation as it addresses all the elements of the National Biosecurity Reference Manual – Grazing Livestock Production.  For LPA accreditation, it is not necessary to complete Section 7 (the JD section) of the AHA template, but completion of Section 7 is required for producers nominating J-BAS 6, 7 or 8 for their herd.

LPA accredited producers must have a biosecurity plan, otherwise accreditation will be affected, However a JD clinical case will only affect the J-BAS, not LPA accreditation.

No, but you are encouraged to use the Cattle Health Declaration to convey your J-BAS to potential buyers.

No

On-farm biosecurity plan template – For producers to work through, with links to supporting documents to access and fill in as required. An additional action list, outlining biosecurity activities to be undertaken over the next 12 months, would help to make this a robust on-farm biosecurity plan specific to the property

The on-farm biosecurity plan template – The On-Farm Biosecurity Plan (including JD) – is a template that producers can use to custom-build an on-farm biosecurity plan specific to their property

Cattle Health Declaration – National animal heath declarations are a way for producers to provide information about the animal health status of their flocks and herds. Buyers should ask for a copy and use the information provided to determine the health risks associated with the animals offered for sale.

The Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS) is a risk profiling tool developed for use with JD in beef cattle.

Johne’s disease score in Dairy cattle – The dairy industry is promoting the use of the National JD Dairy Score (JDDS) and adoption of hygienic calf rearing practices.

JD in Cattle tools – A number of tools are available for cattle producers to help them prevent JD entering or manage it in their cattle. Animal Health Australia has collated them in one web page

Everything you need to know about JD in Cattle – With recent changes in the way the disease is managed in Australian cattle, producers, vets or anyone working in the cattle production industry can find all the resources they need right here

Farm biosecurity plan – An on-farm biosecurity plan is a requirement for maintaining a Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS) and is a requirement for the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program.

LPA program – All the information you need to know about the LPA program.