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Vaccination against sheep johnes disease

By Department of Primary Industries - 30th September 2005 - Back to News

Gudair^TM vaccine is an aid in the fight against Johnes Disease in sheep (OJD) and has been available in Victoria for some time now under a special permit. If given to sheep before they have been exposed to the bacterium that causes OJD it reduces the likelihood of those sheep developing clinical signs and shedding the organism in huge numbers.

Care should be taken when administering Gudair^TM for 3 main reasons. Firstly the vaccine has been approved for use on condition that carcass damage is minimal. That is why vaccination must be carried out beside the ear, as the wastage in the abattoirs from that area is negligible. If the abattoirs have to trim too much waste because sheep have been vaccinated in the wrong place then permission for use of the vaccine may be withdrawn. Secondly, self-innoculation can have dire consequences for the innoculator. There are well founded reports of injuries taking months to heal and even resulting in the loss of fingers. Thirdly, as with any product, if it’s going to have any chance of working it should be given as directed.

Why consider vaccination; again, for a number of reasons. Firstly, even though OJD may not be suspected in a flock it may be there. Secondly, even if it’s not there now it could be unknowingly introduced in the future. Thirdly, correctly vaccinated sheep attract extra points on the OJD Animal Health Statement (scoring system) and potentially will be worth more in the future.

Subsidies are available to reduce the cost of the vaccine to producers whose flocks are known to be, or suspected of being, infected with OJD. However the vaccine is available to all sheep farmers with the approval of Animal Health staff from the Department of Primary Industries.

If you have any queries please contact either your private Veterinarian or DPI Animal Health staff.

SPRAYING ON TARGET

In the mid nineties, legislation came into force in Victoria making it an offence to cause damage or unacceptable contamination through agricultural chemical spray drift. If spray drift affects plants, stock or land outside the target area, substantial penalties may apply.

The Chemical Standards Branch of the Department of Primary Industries typically receives an increased number of complaints of spray drift damage over Spring.

It is the responsibility of all chemical users to apply pesticides carefully and according to label instructions to avoid off-target effects.

Applicators need to consider the following to minimise the risks of spray drift:

• Don’t spray if weather conditions, in particular, wind direction, are unsuitable or unstable.
• Use the minimum pressure required and largest droplet size for effective coverage.
• Reduce travel speed and spray nozzle height.
• Use low drift nozzles.
• Use equipment that is least likely to result in drift eg. shielded boom sprays, spray domes.
• Consider planting vegetative barriers between properties and along roadsides.
• Leave a spray free buffer zone between adjoining properties where possible.
• Be careful when using spray oils - some may increase spray droplet life and increase drift.

There is a great diversity of agricultural enterprises across the State. This sometimes leads to concern with chemical use where different farming systems adjoin each other. For example, grape growers are keen to protect their substantial investments from the risk of herbicide damage or contamination from chemicals applied on nearby grazing properties. Graziers may be concerned about pesticides used in vineyards drifting onto pastures with consequent risks of residues in animal products. The bottom line is that chemicals need to hit their target and not drift off and cause damage elsewhere.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com