1. Pathways to Progress with BJD for Factory Field Service
Mr Phil Whitten Dairy Australia, BJD Project Manager
Dr Andrew Padula Veterinary Consultant
March – April 2008
(Opening slide)

2. Overview Introduction What is BJD? Why worry about BJD? Dairy Score
3 –Step Calf Plan
Dairy industry resources on BJD

3. 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

4. BJD in Australia Common in dairy herds in south eastern Australia
2. What is BJD?
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
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

5. Signs of BJD Infected as a young calf Show signs when old (4+)
2. What is BJD?
Signs of BJD
Chronic scouring
Infected as a young calf
Show signs when old (4+)
scouring
weight loss
reduced milk
death
Weight loss
Images courtesy Dr J.Malmo.

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

7. International activity
3. Why worry about BJD?
International activity

8. Whole chain risk management summary
3. Why worry about BJD?
Whole chain risk management summary
Cattle
Harvesting
Processing
Markets
Hazard
BJD in herd
Faecal contamination of milk
Pasteurisation efficacy
Market sensitivity to MAP
Critical Control Points
Good calf hygiene
Remove shedders
Avoid Introducing BJD
Good milking hygiene
Understand efficacy of heat tx
Use appt. time and temp.
Communication and awareness

9. National Dairy BJD Assurance Score
4. Dairy Score
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
“The higher the Score the lower the risk”

10. Comparing the risk 4. Dairy Score Free Zone (WA)
Market Assurance Program herds
Protected Zone
Single test negative
Approved Control Programs
KEY POINT:
The higher the Score the lower the risk.
CONTENT:
[Click mouse button to work through each risk assurance category.]
Hygienic Calf Rearing Programs ie. JDCAP (Victoria) or 3-Step
Infected or Suspect
All Non-Assessed herds after July 2008

11. Extra points for good calf rearing
4. Dairy Score
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
KEY POINT:
Individual cattle reared under an approved hygienic calf rearing program are eligible for extra points on top of the herd base Score – and these points remain for life.
CONTENT:
Because infection takes place as a young calf, calf rearing programs that reduce the risk of transmission are rewarded in the Score.
Calves reared under the Victorian JDCAP program are a low risk of BJD. An extra 3-points are available for individual calves reared under JDCAP.
The 3-Step Calf Plan has three requirements (which will be discussed in the following slides). The program has been included as part of every dairy company’s on-farm QA program. Calves reared under this program are eligible for 1 extra point on top of the herd base Score.
The bonus points applicable to calves remain with the calf for life – lifetime Score.
When either program has been in place for 4 years or more, the base Sore for a herd can increase by 1-point. The maximum base Score possible by calf rearing programs alone is Score 4.The maximum Score for individual animals is Score 7. ie for JDCAP reared calves in a Tested Low Prevalence Herd (Score 4).

12. Why is calf rearing important?
5. 3-Step Calf Plan
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

13. Step 1: Calves removed within 12 hours
5. 3-Step Calf Plan
Step 1: Calves removed within 12 hours
Image courtesy Dairy Australia
KEY POINT:
Calves are to be taken off the cow within 12 hours of birth.
CONTENT:
Prompt calf removal reduces the exposure to potentially infectious material from either the dam or the environment.
Young calves are most susceptible in BJD infection.
A system should be implemented to ensure calves are removed promptly.

14. Step 2: No access to effluent
5. 3-Step Calf Plan
Step 2: No access to effluent
Image courtesy Dairy Australia
KEY POINT:
Management of the calf rearing area should ensure that no effluent from animals of susceptible species comes into contact with the calf.
CONTENT:
Effluent containing faecal material from cattle, goats, alpaca and deer is potentially infectious to calves.
Goats, deer and alpaca as susceptible to infection with the same strain of the bug that infects cattle; care should be taken when these species cross-graze with dairy cattle.
By keeping the calf rearing area free of effluent sources calves will also be less likely to develop other infections.
This may involve fencing off effluent drains, relocating calf rearing areas, prevent grazing with susceptible species.

15. Step 3: 12 months separation from adults
5. 3-Step Calf Plan
Step 3: 12 months separation from adults
Image courtesy Dairy Australia
KEY POINT:
Calves up to 12 months old should not be reared on pastures that have had adult stock or stock that are known to carry BJD on them during the past 12 months .
CONTENT:
Cattle develop age related resistance to BJD.
By the time cattle are 12 months old it is extremely difficult to infect them with BJD
Need to develop a grazing management plan to achieve this.
Off-farm rearing of calves may be an option for some farmers.

16. Auditable 3-Step Calf Plan
Standard presention on the National Dairy BJD Assurance Score and 3-Step Calf Plan
October 2006
3-Step Calf Plan
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 claim
Farm map, calving records, animal ID etc

17. 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