Johne's Outbreak Requires Quarantine
AUSTRALIA - Four properties in central Queensland near Rockhampton and Moura have been quarantined after cattle tested positive to bovine Johne's disease.
28 November 2012
2 minute read
The owners of Rockley Brahman cattle stud say they're shocked by the discovery of BJD, a muscle wasting condition which can affect cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas and deer, reports ABC Rural.
The disease is rare in Queensland and it's not yet known how it made it to the properties.
About 160 properties which purchased cattle from the stud have been alerted.
Ashley Kirk, who runs the stud with his family, says they will rely on IVF technology to help recover from the outbreak.
"Because it's all you do and what you want to do and you love it, it's been pretty tough to have someone say you can't sell bulls again, it's a big part of what you do and half your income," he said.
"So to have that stopped, it's a pretty big loss to your business."
Agforce says they're not alarmed by the discovery of the disease.
Lobby group cattle board president Howard Smith says the nature of the disease means it will do little to hurt the industry in Queensland.
"Obviously wee feel for everyone that could be effected by it but we're certainly not by any means alarmed to any degree."
"It will be more to do with an issue of identifying the properties and animals and cleaning up the disease. Other states have had it, I would imagine to a degree it would be business as usual for 99.9 per cent of the industry but obviously those people that are effected there will be challenges there."
