Lessons from the implementation of BJD management strategies in the Australian dairy industry

摘要

Australia has had considerable success in eradicating several important cattle diseases in the 20th century including pleuropnemonia, tuberculosis and brucellosis. This required considerable resources and resulted in the establishment of major animalhealth capability for the control of infectious diseases but approaches to manage Bovine Johne's Disease (BJD) need to be different. In 2003 a new approach to manage BJD was adopted by industry peak bodies and animal health authorities in Australia. Thenew National Strategic Plan involved more emphasis on industry-led voluntary measures and a less regulated approach through cooperation of farmers, animal health authorities, dairy processors and government agencies. The goals of the national approach are to reduce contamination of farms and farm products by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis to protect the status of non-infected herds and regions and to reduce the social, economic and trade impact of BJD. Due to decades of regulatory controls for BJD, Australia is in a favourable situation in comparison to other countries, as endemic Johne's disease is restricted to south-eastern Australia and in affected dairy herds BJD occurs at a low prevalence. The different disease prevalence between beef and dairy sectors and different regions of Australia is taken into account in the control strategies for the dairy and beef sectors.