New National Approach to BJD

A new national approach to BJD was adopted on 1 July 2016 which is based on an “On Farm Biosecurity” approach to BJD although individual states/jurisdictions were still able to impose movement restrictions on animals entering their state/jurisdiction. Western Australia has recently imposed quite rigorous border controls which can be summarised as follows:

1. For movement of cattle from Queensland to WA the herd of origin must have a minimum of a J-BAS score of 8 and have completed a Check Test within the last 12 months. All herds from the previous Protected Zone were given a J-BAS score of 7 as at 1 July 2016. However to move to a J-BAS score of 8 they must do a “Sample” test which is a whole herd test of all females over the age of two years up to a herd size of 210 females and for larger herds a sample of the females over two years of age up to 300 head. The owner of the herd must also have in place a Biosecurity Plan for BJD which is supervised by an approved veterinarian.
2. For herds in states other than Qld and NT the herd of origin must have a J-BAS score of 8 and have completed three negative biennial sample tests over four years plus a negative Check test within the previous 24 months. This exceeds the J BAS 8 requirement of two Sample tests two years apart plus an On Farm BJD Biosecurity Plan supervised by a veterinarian.

A copy of the J-BAS scoring system and the WA Health Certificate for movement of stock to Western Australia which spells out the BJD requirements for entry of stock to WA is attached.