An OJD-affected sheep among healthy animals.

AUSTRALIAN sheep meat and wool industry stakeholders have only one a week to tell authorities how Ovine Johne’s Disease should be managed nationally.

The opportunity to make submissions to the national review, headed by WoolProducers Australia and Sheep Producers Australia, will close on Monday March 12.

WPA and SPA sought feedback in late January on the 2013-2018 National Ovine Johne’s Disease Management Plan, which will conclude this year. The NOJDMP is managed by Animal Health Australia on behalf of WPA and SPA.

Animal Health Australia said the current national plan has used a range of tools, including abattoir monitoring, vaccination, the Sheep Health Declaration and the Market Assurance Program (SheepMAP), to manage OJD and minimise its spread.

WPA policy director, Amanda Olthof, thanked those organisations and individuals who have already provided their feedback.

“It’s important that we receive feedback from across the industry to ensure that our strategies, tools and resources are effective in reducing the prevalence of OJD in our national flock,” she said.

SPA animal health and welfare manager, Stephen Crisp, explained that industry was considering two broad options; to cease the NOJDMP and manage its underlying tools through the broader Sheep Health Project, or to incorporate stakeholder feedback into a revised OJD framework.

“The final outcome naturally depends on the feedback we receive.

“Regardless of the decision reached, we will be implementing the review’s recommendations in the second half of 2018,” he said.

A concurrent review of SheepMAP has now closed, though stakeholders can still have their say on the NOJDMP and its related tools by responding to the discussion paper found at www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/ojd-review/

Source: AHA.