Changes in how bovine Johne’s disease will be managed nationally have been unveiled in Wauchope.
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These changes include a move to a less regulated program with a focus on a risk based approach at farm level.
North Coast Local Land Services have been running information sessions to help livestock producers make the transition.
Comboyne farmer Michael Fisher who owns 300 beef cattle said he found the event very useful.
“I’ve got to have a biosecurity plan to be up-to-date and to be safe from litigation,” he said.
“The cost shouldn’t be anything more than we pay already. For most farmers it will be more and different paperwork.”
Animal Health Australia have developed a number of tools to help producers manage the risk of Johne’s disease on their farms. One of the key components of the program is the Johne’s Beef Assurance Score, or JBAS.
Producers with herds in New South Wales that have no history of infection or, where there have been no clinical cases for at least five years, who do not implement a plan overseen by a veterinarian, will revert to a J-BAS of 6 from 1 July 2017.
Michael Ferguson of Wauchope Vets said the information session was very useful, in terms of reassuring local producers about what their trading requirements are going to be under the new scheme.
Contact North Coast Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or go to www.farmbiosecurity.com.au
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