Lessons learned from the control of Johne's disease in the Victorian cattle herd

摘要

The state of Victoria, located in the south east of mainland Australia, produces approximately 20% of Australian beef and 65% of Australian milk. There are currently approximately 4200 dairy herds and over 10 000 beef herds present in Victoria. BovineJohne's disease (BJD) is endemic in the dairy cattle population in south eastern Australia, with at least 25% of dairy herds in Victoria known to be, or suspected of being, infected. In contrast, BJD is uncommon in beef herds in this region. Since 1994,Victoria has maintained a BJD control program that has been based on various combinations of regulatory, administrative, on-farm management and extension activities. Voluntary risk-based trading and on-farm management programs (for example hygienic calfrearing and test and control programs) are key elements of the current approach used in Victoria.