IT WILL now be easier to sell Victorian cows interstate following the South Australian Government's decision to abolish mandatory testing for Bovine Johne's Disease.

Compulsory testing was introduced about nine months ago to protect work already done in South Australia to curb the spread of BJD.

However, the move came under fire from dairy farmers, farm organisations and livestock agents on both sides of the border.

The South Australian opposition claimed the rules stifled industry growth, while Victorian farmers said the rules closed a lucrative market for cows at a time when many were looking to leave the industry.

The backflip, which means producers only have to declare their BJD score when buying and selling cattle, has been welcomed by the wider dairy industry.

South Australian Dairyfarmers Association president, David Basham, was pleased with the decision but hoped farmers would continue with their BJD programs on farm.

"I encourage people to still be in the program, it allows more sensible trade to occur - on a risk-based assessment," he said.

South Australian BJD program manager, Jeremy Rogers, said the new rules had been ignored and were difficult to enforce.

"We tried for six to nine months and during that time people were not complying or finding it too difficult to comply," he said.

He said biggest compliance issue was that Victorian farmers were reluctant to test their cows prior to selling into South Australia because many feared it would expose them to consequences "they didn't want to deal with".

The South Australian Government is now working on a new plan to tackle BJD by providing farmers with increased information about the cattle they are purchasing.

Dr Rogers said the new plan would be a "Cattle Health Statement", which would require the vendor to provide information about Enzootic Bovine Leukosis, BJD, vaccinations and other health-related matters.

While it is still only a draft, with consultation continuing with the South Australian industry, Dr Rogers said he hoped the Cattle Health Statement would come in sometime this year.

Pointing to the health statements introduced for sheep four years ago, which now have "100 per cent compliance", Dr Rogers said he was confident a Cattle Health Statement would work.

For more information about BJD rules, phone Dr Rogers on 0427 608 133.