The Australian Brahman Breeders Association understands that with current knowledge the strategy of following the national Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) strategic plan of eradication in Queensland will continue.

A vaccine for BJD has been under development for some years and is expected to be released commercially in February/March next year.

We have requested that the vaccine be implemented to allow properties involved in movement restrictions to trade.

The testing to resolve the herd status of properties would continue under a regulated scheme as it is at present.

The new rapid PCR test which has been under development at Sydney University will be established at the Queensland government laboratories as soon as possible, which is hoped to be February next year.

The Australian Brahman Breeders Association also supports the establishment of a Queensland Cattle Compensation fund to provide meaningful financial assistance to affected producers for this incident and anything in the future, along the lines of the fund which operates in Western Australia with a small levy on the industry.

Members impacted by the BJD outbreak and under movement restrictions can assist the development of their Property Disease Investigation Plan by researching the following information from their records:

Have a plan of the property with paddocks marked available.

When did the Rockley cattle enter the property?

Are all of the Rockley cattle still available for testing?

The date any Rockley cattle left the property

Where were the Rockley cattle on the property?

Which cattle were exposed to the Rockley animal/s when they were age susceptible to infection (under 12 months of age) and where are these animals now?

Biosecurity Queensland or DAFF officers will be in contact with members impacted by movement restrictions in the near future to progress the development of the Property Disease Investigation Plan.

We would like to re-assure members we are doing all we can to speed up the process of property clearance and to adopt the use of new technologies to reduce the impact on affected producers as well as provide meaningful compensation.