PRODUCERS will have to comply with new ovine Johne's disease rules from January 1 in Victoria, Western Australian and parts of NSW.
The Sheepment Council of Australia today announced changes to the OJD prevalence areas.
Council president Kate Joseph said OJD was on the rise.
Ms Joseph said the national Animal Health Committee had agreed to downgrade Victoria's medium prevalence area to a high prevalence area and the low prevalence area to a medium prevalence area.
Other modifications include changes to all high, medium and low prevalence area boundaries in NSW and making the low prevalence area in WA to a medium prevalence area.
"OJD monitoring is confirming the presence of disease in an increasing number of flocks, many of which were infected a number of years ago and which may have spread the disease further through trading," Ms Joseph said.
"SCA is concerned about the potential ramifications these changes may have on both within state trade and interstate trade but is also very concerned about OJD spreading insidiously through the Australian sheep population."
But she said changes were vital to protect the Assurance Based Credit scheme's integrity.
"We recommend that all sheep producers in the medium and high prevalence areas vaccinate all intended replacement sheep before they are 16 weeks of age after which they are more likely to be exposed to bacteria on contaminated pasture and the vaccination is less effective. Lambs intended for slaughter are not required to be vaccinated," Ms Joseph said.
The council said there would be no changes to prevalence areas in Queensland, South Australia or Tasmania.
WoolProducers Australia president Don Hamblin said to help protect flocks from OJD, producers were urged to adopt preventative measures and management tools.
"When purchasing or bringing new sheep on to your property, insist they are accompanied by a signed Sheep Health Statement. In the medium and high prevalence areas you should buy sheep with a higher Assurance Based Credit score than your own flock," Mr Hamblin said.
"Good grazing management is one of the keys to minimising infection rates within flocks as prolonged exposure to OJD-contaminated pastures appears to be a major factor leading to high infection rates."
Producers wishing to increase market opportunities and the level of assurance of their flock can gain ABC points through vaccination, testing and abattoir monitoring under the ABC Scheme, the statement said.
