Rebate for cattle producers to test for disease

AUSTRALIA - Cattle producers in the agricultural areas of the State now have access to a rebate for veterinary investigations of scouring and wasting in their adult cattle.

27 March 2007

2 minute read

Oceania

As part of the investigations, tests will be done to exclude bovine Johne’s disease (BJD).

Department of Agriculture and Food director of animal biosecurity Dr Ashley Mercy said the results of these investigations and tests would provide additional evidence to demonstrate BJD free status for Western Australia.

The $200 rebate, being funded by the Cattle Council of Australia (CCA), can be used by producers towards the cost of a private veterinarian visiting their property to collect samples from adult cattle with symptoms including diarrhoea and wasting. An extra $150 rebate is available if a post mortem is required.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Animal Health Laboratories will be providing free testing of the samples for producers, totalling about $1000 per animal. This testing cost will be covered by the Cattle Industry Compensation Fund.

Dr Mercy said, as a result of a reported case of BJD last year, Western Australia needed to provide evidence of negative test results in order to maintain its disease-free zone status.

“Producers in the agricultural areas are encouraged to take advantage of this rebate for investigating diarrhoea and wasting in their cattle so the results can be used as part of the demonstrated evidence,” he said.

“Symptoms that cattle producers should be looking for in adult cattle include diarrhoea lasting more than three weeks and loss of weight over that period despite adequate nutrition.

“Producers who have cattle with these symptoms should contact a private veterinarian who will advise if they are eligible for a rebate on the testing.”

Western Australia’s CCA representatives Tim D’Arcy and Mike Norton said the BJD Free Zone status was important for the WA cattle industry and they encouraged cattle producers to take up the rebate incentive.

The details of the veterinary rebate scheme will be posted to cattle producers in the wheatbelt and southern regions within the next few weeks.

Producers from Geraldton down to Esperance are eligible to apply for the rebate. The rebate does not apply to producers in the pastoral regions, as the seasonal conditions in these areas make the occurrence of BJD highly unlikely.