Johne’s disease (cattle strain) cattle import conditions for Western Australia - from 1 July 2021

Background

Enhanced import conditions are being implemented as a result of the WA Industry Funding Scheme Management Committee (IFSMC) consultation on the management of Johne’s disease (JD) cattle-strain (C-strain) within WA [2] finalised in December 2020.

The IFSMC consultation outcome was that the majority of WA industry supported a statewide regulated approach with enhanced import conditions to reduce the likelihood of introducing JD (C-strain) to WA.

Import conditions

Key changes that will apply from 1 July 2021 until 17 January 2022 include:

• new faecal sampling and testing requirements (not the same as the national JD in cattle guidelines) and corresponding amendments to veterinary and producer declarations
• a veterinary-approved biosecurity plan requirement for cattle staying within WA (not imported for slaughter or export)
• removal of the requirement for the Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (JBAS) and JD Dairy Assurance Score for cattle imported to stay in WA.

On 1 June 2021, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development amended the import conditions that will come into effect on 1 July 2021 so that the WA faecal herd testing import conditions apply only to:

• the property on which cattle intended for export to WA were born, and
• any property(ies) on which the cattle intended for export to WA resided before they were 12 months of age.

The property on which cattle intended for export to WA were born, and any property(ies) on which the cattle resided before they were 12 months of age, may introduce cattle not intended for export to WA from any other property. However, those supplying properties must not have had any suspected or known infection with JD (C-strain) within the five years preceding supplying the cattle. The faecal herd testing requirements no longer apply to these properties supplying cattle not intended for export to WA. 

Producers must detail in their WA import condition biosecurity plan the precautions taken when selecting cattle to reduce the risk of introducing JD onto the property.

Exporting producers must demonstrate that the property on which cattle exported to WA were born and all properties on which they resided before 12 months of age meet the import requirements. This includes providing the following:

1. Producer declaration

   • If all of the cattle exported to WA were born on the exporting property, the exporting producer completes the Health Certificate for Movement of Livestock into WA.
   • For cattle exported to WA not born on the exporting property, the owner(s)/manager(s) of each property on which those cattle were born or resided before 12 months of age must complete a producer declaration. A template for these producer declarations will be available from 1 July 2021.
   • These producer declarations must be submitted with the Health Certificate for Movement of Livestock into WA, which is completed by the exporting producer. The Health Certificate must include declarations for cattle exported to WA that were born on the exporting property.
2. JD import testing results
   • If all the cattle exported to WA were born on the exporting property, the exporting producer must provide a copy of the JD import test results for that property, along with the Health Certificate for Movement of Livestock into WA. 
   • For cattle exported to WA not born on the exporting property, the owner/manager of each property on which those cattle were born or resided before 12 months of age must provide a copy of the JD import testing. It must be demonstrated that all properties on which exported cattle were born and resided before they were 12 months of age meet WA’s import testing requirements.

WA’s livestock import conditions in the Health certificate for movement of stock to Western Australia (Form LB 1) [1] will be updated to reflect these conditions from 1 July 2021.

The full JD (C-strain) in cattle import conditions are detailed below under the following headings:

• Sampling and testing – changed import requirement [3]
• Transitional arrangements for the Northern Territory and Queensland – changed import requirement [4]
• Other cattle import conditions – changed import requirement [5]
• Beef cattle imported into WA direct to abattoir or live export [6]
• Key definitions for importing livestock to WA [7]
• Import permit application [8]
• Import permit application  - for properties with fewer than 100 cattle over three years of age  [9]

Sampling and testing – changed import requirement

Only faecal herd screening tests, by either HT-J faecal PCR or by faecal culture, will be accepted for importing cattle to WA.

Please note:

• Faecal sampling of cattle must be undertaken by a veterinarian.
• Testing must be carried out at a laboratory approved by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to undertake the JD HT-J faecal PCR or faecal culture tests.

For faecal herd screening testing, samples from individual cattle may be pooled in groups of five. It is recommended to check with the testing laboratory first before pooling, as laboratories may require samples to be individually submitted and pooling to take place in the laboratory. The Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedure for Johne’s Disease [10] outlines further detail on testing for JD.

Herd size, age and numbers to be sampled for testing

A faecal herd screening test must be carried out on:

• the property on which cattle intended for export to WA were born, and
• any property(ies) on which the cattle intended for export to WA resided before they were 12 months of age.

Note: A faecal herd screening test is not the same as a sample or check test as defined in the national JD in cattle guidelines.

The property(ies) that require testing must have a minimum of 100 cattle (beef or dairy) that are three years and older to meet the JD import conditions.

The number of cattle three years and older on the property determines the number of cattle that must be sampled and the number of faecal herd screening tests required. See Tables 2 and 3 for the sampling and testing regime applicable to your operation.

A registered veterinarian must carry out sampling of cattle born on property and introduced cattle as detailed.

Sampling of cattle born on property

Before sampling, the veterinarian must first calculate the number of cattle born on property of testing age (three years and older) in each mob on the property. The total number of cattle born on property to be tested can then be determined as shown in Table 2.

Cattle over four years of age must be preferentially sampled. If there are insufficient numbers of four-year-old animals, cattle over three years may make up the remaining number to be tested. Cattle selected for screening must include any in poor condition that are three years and older.

Introduced cattle sampling

Introduced cattle on the property must be tested in addition to cattle born on property according to the criteria outlined below and in Table 3.

Cattle introduced onto the property must be sampled if they are over three years, with the sample to include cattle introduced during the four years before testing sampled preferentially. Additional cattle introduced earlier are to make up the required maximum number sampled (50).

All introduced cattle that meet the above criteria must be tested (up to a maximum of 50 head). If you have fewer than 50 introduced cattle that meet the criteria, test all of them. Introduced cattle samples must be submitted to the laboratory separately to the  laboratory submission for cattle born on property to allow separate reports for each group.

Number and frequency of faecal herd screening tests

The number and frequency of faecal herd screening tests required to meet WA’s JD import conditions are outlined in Table 4 below.

Properties may have already undertaken faecal herd level testing under the previous import conditions. If that testing meets the new minimum testing age and herd size criteria above, it will be accepted providing it was undertaken within the timeframes below.

Transitional testing arrangements for beef cattle from Queensland and the Northern Territory (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024) – changed import requirement

Previous import conditions for beef cattle from NT and QLD required a faecal check test, not a faecal herd screening test. When the new import conditions are introduced from 1 July 2021, NT and QLD producers will not have had sufficient time to meet the faecal herd screening test criteria as outlined in Table 4. The transitional arrangements will allow NT and QLD until 30 June 2024 to comply with the new import conditions.

The transitional import testing conditions listed below for NT and QLD beef cattle properties only apply to properties with more than 140 homebred cattle over three years of age:

• one negative faecal herd screening test (HT-J faecal PCR or faecal culture), within three years before importation and
• one negative faecal check test within three years before importation. A check test involves sampling 50 cattle over four years of age. If there are insufficient numbers of four-year-old animals, cattle over three years may make up the remaining numbers of cattle to be tested. Cattle younger than three years cannot be included.

If the NT or Queensland property does not have 140 or more cattle born on property, an import permit application [8] can be submitted for assessment.

Other cattle import conditions – changed import requirements

Other conditions for cattle importation into the WA cattle population will include:

Veterinary oversight of a farm biosecurity plan:

• A registered veterinarian must oversee a biosecurity plan for the property on which cattle intended for export to WA were born and any property(ies) the cattle resided on before they were 12 months of age. This plan must seek to minimise the risk to the herd of introduction of JD (C-strain).

Producer and veterinarian declarations:

If all of the cattle being exported to WA were born on the exporting property, the exporting producer declarations include:

• JD import faecal herd screening testing has been undertaken on the exporting property and a copy of all relevant JD test results for that property.
• The exporting property has had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
• Any property that supplied cattle onto the exporting property had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
• A registered veterinarian has overseen a biosecurity plan for the exporting property, which meets WA’s JD import conditions.
• The exported cattle were born and grazed on properties that have been free from JD (C-strain) infection or clinical cases for the last five years.

If the cattle exported to WA were born or resided on properties before they were 12 months of age other than the exporting property:

• The exporting producer must demonstrate that all properties on which the exported cattle were born or resided before 12 months of age meet WA’s JD import requirements by providing:
• Producer declarations for each property on which the exported cattle were born and resided before 12 months of age, with each owner/manager of that property declaring that:
  • JD import faecal herd screening testing has been undertaken on the exporting property and a copy of all relevant JD test results for that property.
  • The property has had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
  • Any property that supplied cattle onto the property has had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
  • A registered veterinarian has overseen a biosecurity plan for the exporting property, which meets WA’s JD import conditions.
• Exporting producer declaration:
  • The exported cattle were born and grazed on properties that have been free from JD (C-strain) infection or clinical cases for the last five years.

The Johne’s Beef Assurance Score (JBAS) and JD Dairy Assurance Score are no longer part of WA’s import conditions for cattle being imported to stay in the WA cattle population, although the JBAS may be used to meet the conditions for cattle imported direct to abattoir and export, as below. 

Beef cattle imported into WA direct to slaughter or live export

There are no changes to the JD import requirements for beef cattle entering WA to move directly to export or to abattoir facilities. The requirements remain as follows:

• The exported cattle must be born and grazed on properties with a JBAS 6 or higher.
  • Beef cattle imported direct to slaughter or live export are not required to have been tested by the faecal herd screening test.
• The exported cattle have been born and grazed only on properties that have been free from JD (C-strain) infection or clinical cases for the last five years.
• The exported cattle have not been in contact with cattle suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
• The cattle must be accompanied by a list of National Livestock Identification System RFIDs of all animals in the consignment.

or

• The cattle otherwise meet the JD import requirements for cattle entering the WA cattle population.

Key definitions – property requirements

Livestock to be exported to WA must have resided only on properties that meet WA’s JD import conditions.  

This includes the property on which cattle intended for export to WA were born and any property(ies) on which the cattle resided before they were 12 months of age. These properties must:

1. meet the sampling/testing requirements outlined in sampling and testing requirements
2. have no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years
3. have introduced livestock only from other properties that have had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years
4. have a registered veterinarian who has overseen a biosecurity plan that includes WA’s JD import conditions.

Cattle 12 months of age and older may reside on other properties without impacting eligibility for export into WA as long as:

1. The property has had no livestock suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.
2. The cattle to be exported have not been in contact with cattle suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years.

Note: Cattle exported into WA may transit non-farming properties such as transit depots, saleyards or showgrounds but must have had no contact while on these properties with cattle suspected or known to be infected with JD (C-strain) during the past five years. Contact is defined as being held in yards in the same or adjacent pen.

Import permit application

Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and subsidiary legislation, cattle imported into WA must meet the new JD import conditions as outlined above from 1 July 2021.

Any party that does not meet the published import requirements may submit an import permit application [11] (with no guarantee of approval). This application involves providing documentation to enable DPIRD to undertake a risk assessment of the property supplying cattle into WA.

Fees associated with risk assessments are included in the annual DPIRD services, products and fees booklet and listed on the Importing livestock into WA – fees and charges webpage [12].

Import permit applications for beef and dairy properties with fewer than 100 cattle three years and older

Where properties have fewer than 100 cattle, the importer should submit an import permit application and the property will be risk assessed to determine eligibility for cattle importation into WA.

An import permit may be more likely to be issued if at least three faecal herd tests of all cattle over three years of age have been undertaken. Further testing may be required as, due to the smaller herd size, the property may not be able to reach the required confidence level for absence of JD.  Other factors assessed may include previous involvement in CattleMAP and cattle introductions onto the property.