The Western Australian Farmers Federation (WAFarmers) is urging major abattoirs in the south west of Western Australia to support WA producers by implementing mandatory testing for Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) in their operations.
The Sheepmeat Council of Australia and WoolProducers of Australia this week jointly announced the new revised sheep trading arrangements for the revised OJD National Management Plan. The revised plan will come into effect on 1 January 2013.
WAFarmers Wool Section president Ed Rogister said the new management plan coming into effect was a ripe opportunity for abattoirs to support producers in WA.
“WAFarmers wants the state and federal government, along with Animal Health Australia, to step in and ensure that major abattoirs in WA are testing for OJD.
“We need the involvement of the major abattoirs for individual producers to know what their status is, as well as to have enough data to collate and form a strategic plan to manage OJD in WA on behalf of producers,” Mr Rogister said.
He said a higher OJD testing rate would provide a more accurate reflection of the prevalence of the disease in WA.
“It is unfortunate that the WA government does not wish to notify the neighbours of OJD-infected properties, which would assist growers in creating management plans under the new program.”
WAFarmers was involved in the OJD National Management Plan review process and supported the replacement of Low, Medium and High Prevalence Areas with Control and Protected Areas.
WAFarmers
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
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