Ovine Johne's disease management in SA

Changes to management of the endemic sheep disease known as Ovine Johne's disease (OJD), or Johne's disease (JD), were introduced in South Australia on 1 July 2019.

Producers should be aware that restrictions relating to OJD for sheep entering the state are no longer in place. Movement restrictions were removed to:

  • recognise the inability to reliably detect infected flocks
  • assist producers in restocking once dry conditions ease, by making sheep trade easier between states
  • align SA with the national management arrangements for the disease, per the Australian Government OJD Program.

Learn more about the changes:

Manage OJD risks

Without movement restrictions, there is increased ability for producers with OJD-infected flocks to trade sheep. To minimise the risk these animals may pose, we recommend that:

  • producers check the status of animals before purchasing – read the NVD and NSHD.
  • all sheep entering the state are vaccinated for OJD, either before entry or on arrival in SA.

Completed National Vendor Declarations (NVD) and National Sheep Health Declarations (NSHD) remain mandatory for all sheep entering and moving within SA.

Johne's disease in sheep remains a notifiable disease. If you suspect OJD is present in sheep or other species, it must be immediately reported to PIRSA Animal Health.

If you do not understand the OJD risk, seek advice from PIRSA before purchasing animals. Learn more about managing OJD risks:

South Australian OJD Management Program

PIRSA administers the South Australian OJD Management Program that is supported and funded by the SA Sheep Industry Fund Board through the Sheep Industry Fund.

The program reduces the economic impact of OJD in sheep through:

  • encouraging producers to voluntarily investigate and manage Johne's disease in their flocks
  • encouraging declaration of OJD for all sheep sold or entering SA through use of the National Sheep Health Declaration
  • increasing industry awareness through education of OJD risks and management
  • promoting low-risk trading and management practices.

Contact us for more information about the OJD program.

Learn about entry requirements moving sheep to South Australia from interstate.

Voluntary OJD testing

Producers can choose to investigate or monitor for OJD through requesting abattoir inspections, or on-farm testing.

Abattoir testing (temporarily suspended in SA)

Voluntary abattoir surveillance can be used to:

  • provide low disease risk assurance – abattoir 500 and 150 status
  • monitor the levels of disease in a known infected flock
  • alert producers to new infections.

On-farm testing

Voluntary on-farm testing of flocks with OJD symptoms can be conducted by private veterinarians or PIRSA animal health staff.

Flocks showing the following signs can often be confused with nutritional diseases or internal parasites:

  • a distinct 'poor' tail end of the mob
  • weight loss
  • increased mortality.

Thorough disease investigations are recommended to ensure accurate diagnosis and minimise the economic impact of endemic diseases.

Subsidised disease investigations may involve either post-mortems of clinically affected animals or pooled faecal testing, from 50 to 100 high risk animals.

Property disease management plan

A property disease management plan (PDMP) can be developed for each property to assist producers, following an OJD detection. Animal health officers will work with producers to lower the impact of the disease and help achieve a low risk status.

Depending on best practice related to individual production systems, the PDMP may recommend:

  • vaccination with Gudair
  • strategic grazing practices
  • management of straying animals
  • trading options
  • property declarations and tagging of sheep.

If producers fail to meet reasonable biosecurity measures to manage OJD, orders may be placed on the property under the Livestock Act 1997.

Sheep health declaration

The National Sheep Health Declaration is required for all sheep movements between properties in SA. It can contain information on the:

  • history of the flock
  • OJD testing
  • abattoir monitoring
  • vaccination.

Buyers beware – before purchasing sheep, you are urged to review information in the NSHD before deciding whether to introduce the animals to your property. Your livestock agent can assist you in accessing this information.

Contact PIRSA Animal Health for more information on risk-based purchasing.

SheepMAP

The Sheep Market Assurance Program (SheepMAP) is part of the national Johne's disease control program. It is a classification scheme to assure sheep breeders and their clients that participating flocks have been objectively assessed as having low risk of OJD.

SheepMAP is voluntary and the costs are borne by the participating flock owners. Producers can register with the program to promote their low risk Johne's disease status.

Producers are also encouraged to buy sheep from flocks participating in the SheepMAP program.

Learn more about SheepMAP

Contact us for more information about SheepMAP.

Approved vaccinate status

To be eligible for 'approved vaccinate' status on the National Sheep Health Declaration, sheep must be vaccinated:

  • with an approved OJD vaccine before 16 weeks of age and marked with a 'V' National Livestock Identification System tag
  • after 16 weeks and from a flock that meets one of the following criteria:
    • registered to a SheepMAP flock
    • returned a negative Pooled Faecal Culture 350 or High Throughput Johne's 350 in the 2 years before being vaccinated
    • current Abattoir 500 status.

Contact

For enquiries about OJD management and SheepMAP:

Rachel van Dissel – Senior Animal Health Officer and OJD Program Manager
Phone: (08) 8568 6417
Mobile: 0428 283 073
Email: PIRSA.sheepmap@sa.gov.au

Emergency Animal Disease Hotline

Suspected disease or pests in livestock, poultry or aquatic animals must be reported immediately.

Call us to help stop the spread of animal illness, even if you are unsure of the disease.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Freecall 1800 675 888
Page last reviewed: 18 Apr 2023

 


Top of page