• Home
>
• Newsletters
>
• 2000 April
>
• Johnes Disease (JD)

Johnes Disease (JD)

The Johnes Disease Calf Accreditation Program (JDCAP) has now been officially launched in Victoria. This is essentially a program that is designed to minimise the risk of spread of JD within a herd. Calves that are reared under this program should be significantly less likely to be infected with JD than calves that are not reared under these conditions.

The first 800 herds that are successfully assessed and signed up on the program will be eligible for a rebate from the cattle compensation fund.  The rebate will be paid directly to farmers to offset the costs involved in assessment and development of a farm management plan for controlling JD.

Who is eligible for JDCAP?

Eligible herds are those with a JD status of :

• Non assessed - (this is the status of most herds that were previously classified as No Known JD)
• Suspect
• Check tested
• Tested low prevalence

While heavily infected herds are not able to be accredited under JDCAP, they should still be rearing calves under the same regime.  In fact, it could be argued that these herds have the most to gain by following JDCAP recommendations.

Herd status is issued and monitored by NRE.

How do I get my herd accredited?

An accredited vet inspects your herd and calf rearing facilities and together you develop a calf-rearing plan that complies with the JDCAP.  Your herd is then registered with NRE.  You are required to have an annual audit to maintain your status.

What are the benefits of JDCAP?

The ability to demonstrate that a herd is unlikely to be significantly infected with JD is becoming more important when selling cattle. Quality assurance programs such as Murray Goulburn Milk Care will become more prevalent. Herds that comply with the requirements of JDCAP will satisfy the JD requirements of these QA programs.