Pathways to Progress with BJD for Factory Field Service

Mr Phil Whitten Dairy Australia, BJD Project Manager

Dr Andrew Padula Veterinary Consultant

www.dairyaustralia.com.au/bjd March – April 2008

2

Overview

1. Introduction2. What is BJD?3. Why worry about BJD?4. Dairy Score5. 3 –Step Calf Plan6. Dairy industry resources on BJD

Introduction

• Road show of information sessions in Vic and Tas• Provide information on industry approach to BJD• Working with vets, stock agents and milk companies• Aiming to get farmers implementing low risk measures

3

1. Introduction

4

BJD in Australia

• Common in dairy herds in south eastern Australia

• BJD comes on the back of a truck!

• Bug survives in muck on the farm

• Changing environment regarding regulation

2. What is BJD?

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

5

Signs of BJD2. What is BJD?

Weight loss

Chronic scouring

Images courtesy Dr J.Malmo.

• Infected as a young calf• Show signs when old (4+)

• scouring• weight loss• reduced milk• death

6

Why worry about BJD?

• Relatively common dairy cattle disease• Hypothesised link to Crohn’s disease in humans

– MAP found in some Crohn’s patients– MAP found in overseas retail milk surveys– Insufficient evidence to support a link

• MAP in milk may make future market access difficult• Some on-farm economic losses

3. Why worry about BJD?

International activity

7

3. Why worry about BJD?

Whole chain risk management summary

8

3. Why worry about BJD?

Cattle Harvesting Processing Markets

HazardBJD in herd

HazardFaecal contamination of milk

HazardPasteurisation efficacy

HazardMarket sensitivity to MAP

Critical Control PointsGood calf hygieneRemove shedders

Avoid Introducing BJD

Critical Control PointsGood milking hygiene

Critical Control PointsUnderstand efficacy of heat tx

Use appt. time and temp.

Critical Control PointsCommunication and

awareness

9

National Dairy BJD Assurance Score

• “BJD comes on the back of a truck!”• Voluntary tool for farmers to better manage the risk

of BJD with herd introductions• Ranks existing BJD programs by risk• After July 2008 all farms Score 0 unless

implemented measures to reduce or assess the risk

4. Dairy Score

“The higher the Score the lower the risk”

10

Comparing the riskMarket Assurance Program herds

Single test negative

Protected Zone

Approved Control Programs

Hygienic Calf Rearing Programs ie. JDCAP (Victoria) or 3-StepInfected or Suspect

All Non-Assessed herds after July 2008

Free Zone (WA)

4. Dairy Score

11

Extra points for good calf rearing

3-Step Calf Plan– Included as part of dairy company QA program– Bonus of 1 extra point on top of the herd base Score- Herd can stay on Score 3 if 3-Step in place before Jul 08

Victorian Johne’s Disease Calf Accreditation Program– Managed by DPI Victoria (called JDCAP)– Bonus of 3 extra points on top of herd base Score

4. Dairy Score

12

Why is calf rearing important?

• 3-Step Plan can be done on all farms• Helps break major route of transmission• Faecal contamination of dam’s udder a risk• Environment contaminated with Mptb

5. 3-Step Calf Plan

13

Step 1: Calves removed within 12 hours

Image courtesy Dairy Australia

5. 3-Step Calf Plan

14

Step 2: No access to effluent

Image courtesy Dairy Australia

5. 3-Step Calf Plan

15

Step 3: 12 months separation from adults

Image courtesy Dairy Australia

5. 3-Step Calf Plan

16

Auditable 3-Step Calf Plan

Dairy company QA programs a best-practice measure

Audit process not yet defined but program is auditable

Farmers must have documentation to support their claimFarm map, calving records, animal ID etc

3-Step Calf Plan

Dairy BJD resources

• Web site www.dairyaustralia.com.au/bjd• Publications

– 3-Step Calf Plan– Dairy Score– BJD Technotes for vets and advisers– Dairy farm guidelines for BJD– DVD on BJD best-practice

17

6. Dairy BJD resources