Publication Date

10-2016

Publisher

Western Australia Agriculture Authority

City

Perth

Abstract

Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) is an infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Mptb) that can also affect other ruminants such as goats, alpaca, sheep and deer. It causes chronic wasting and incurable diarrhoea leading to deaths in mature cattle. Subclinically affected animals may have reduced growth and milk production levels.

The WA cattle industry needs to determine what level of protection from BJD incursion and spread is required for WA, including at the border, and how this is best achieved. The primary decision to be made is whether BJD is best managed on a statewide basis via regulation, or whether it is better managed according to individual producer needs using on-farm biosecurity.

To assist this decision-making process, the WA cattle Industry Management Committee has requested an economic assessment of the potential costs of BJD within WA should it enter and become established, compared to the likely costs of a regulatory control program.

Epidemiological modelling was used to estimate the number of BJD-infected farms in WA in 20 and 30 years’ time in a deregulated environment. Different levels of economic impact were then explored, differentiating between industry sectors and locations.

Number of Pages

66

Keywords

economic impact, bovine johne's disease, BJD, western australia, cattle, industry funding scheme, biosecurity, diseases

Disciplines

Agricultural Economics | Beef Science | Biosecurity | Dairy Science

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