CENTRAL and western Queensland beef producer, Peter Naylor, believes Biosecurity Queensland has acted “prematurely” after a beast from his Marlborough property, Hollins Bay, returned a positive result for Bovine Johne’s Disease (BJD) this week.
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Speaking from his property at Winton, Mayfair, Mr Naylor told Queensland Country Life that tests were “inconclusive” and “ongoing.”
“It is really too early for me to make a statement because the tests have only been partially completed but I do think there has been a knee-jerk reaction,” he said.
Mr Naylor said he had purchased some bulls in 2006 from the Kirk family’s Rockley Brahman stud, Bajool, where BJD was detected in November, 2012.
“I would like to say that I fully support the Kirk family,” he said.
“They are proper people.”
The positive result from Mr Naylor’s property has sparked a fresh wave of quarantine orders across Queensland with another 43 properties linked to Hollins Bay now under movement restrictions.
Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said these properties were “spread fairly well” but confirmed there was a large concentration in Central Queensland.
“It is not a stud operation so the potential for trace forward properties won’t be as extensive as the previous detection,” he said.
“At this stage we believe the majority of cattle have been sent straight to slaughter and that will reduce the impact.
“But we have been able to identify 43 properties where cattle have been moved to and, over the past 24 hours, my staff have been working hard to put Property Disease Investigation Plans (PDIP) in place on these properties.”
“Biosecurity officers will be working very closely with affected producers and the cattle industry to contain any further infection and resolve cases as quickly as they can.”
The Minister is remaining steadfast in his pledge to bring BJD under control but stopped short of saying the disease would be eradicated from the Queensland herd.
“Eradication is the technical term used in terms of responding to an outbreak under the national protocol but in reality, eradication of any disease can’t be guaranteed,” he said.
Mr McVeigh said yesterday’s test result highlighted that the testing regime followed by Biosecurity Queensland was working.
He said over 14,000 samples from 108 properties had been tested since November last year.
“From that process there have been five positive results including this property,” he said.
“This shows the strength of the testing regime, how comprehensive our BJD eradication response has been over almost the last 12 months and it shows that we are right on top of this thing.”
Producers affected by BJD are also being urged to apply for assistance from the government’s $5 million BJD support package.
“Producers need to get online at – www.daff.qld.gov.au – or call 13 25 23 – to find out what support they may be eligible to receive,” Mr McVeigh said.
What cattle producers think
Warrwick Freeman, Meeleebee Downs, Roma:
“Eradication is the only option and it is possible if everyone, government bodies and producers, work together.”
David Scarraberotti, Green Mountain, Coominya:
“We need some sort of consensus from the scientist about whether eradication is achievable and if it is required.”
Rex Wells, Wallumbilla:
“If they can eradicate it then they should give. I think eradication is important for the beef industry in Queensland.”
