Letters to the editor

Why has Animal Health Australia persisted running a market assurance program (MAP) with a scientifically doubtful test that has such a devastating impact on individuals who receive a false positive test result?

How does the MAP help the cattle industry manage the disease when only about 320 herds have participated out of 10,000 beef cattle studs and as many as 200,000 commercial herds?

These questions must be answered urgently. I am aware of a cow from which two samples were taken simultaneously.

One sample was sent to a laboratory in Victoria, the other to NSW. One came back positive and the other negative.

This reinforces why the beef industry has absolutely no confidence in this farce.

The 2015 MLA survey of 17 beef cattle diseases established that Johnes disease had the lowest economic impact of all the diseases studied.

It has taken nearly 15 years to establish the estimated loss to the Australian beef industry from Johnes –  just $2.8 million per annum. The report resulting from the MLA’s survey also states: “Diagnostic tests have inadequate sensitivity to detect infected individuals.” The test regularly produces false positives. MLA has also drawn attention to: “The persistence of the organism in the environment, and especially water, can negate animal movement.”

This fact has been confirmed in the United Kingdom from studies of rivers in Wales.

Regardless of the strain (ovine, bison or bovine) Johnes is now classified as one disease. This raises an important question regarding the actions of Western Australia, which claims to be Johnes free.

WA has the endemic sheep strain, and it’s former chief veterinarian said at a BJD review that WA had not tested for it for 10 or more years. The rest of Australia has basically deregulated, but to sell cattle to WA they must employ a test that is unreliable and potentially very damaging to those who supply beef cattle genetics to WA.

The formal judicial inquiry should look at how WA has been allowed to retain its JD-free status, and thus use it as an effective trade barrier within Australia.

There have been two Senate inquiries and one Victorian government inquiry into Johnes, and incredibly, the latest review has failed to deregulate Johnes and hand back its management to farmers.

The policy fails basic requirements to effectively run a health program:

1. There is no reliable test;

2. There is no cure;

3. There have not been any soundly based surveys since this program started; and

4. There has not been a cost benefit study looking at the economic and social costs of the policy.

The tragic social cost has been enormous – just look at the consequences of three cattle at the Rockley Brahman stud in Queensland, which caused about 160 herds across northern Australia to be quarantined.

One individual had 100-per-cent equity in his farm and was sold up by his bank as he had no cash flow for three years.

A false positive has a catastrophic impact on studs as bull sales can be put on hold, and hard-won reputations trashed overnight. It is impossible to identify how many families have been utterly devastated as the authorities hide behind the privacy act.

I implore action to end this state of affairs.

Don Lawson,

Mansfield, Victoria.

TONY Abbott cannot overcome his emotions about losing the Coalition’s leadership to Malcolm Turnbull.

His ongoing antagonism of the prime minister is highlighting his personality flaws and is highly counterproductive.

His attempt to spark hatred and division in the Liberal party will heavily affect the next election. I agree with Liberal Party president Nick Greiner that both should resolve their issues face to face or be ready to suffer the consequences.

A similar leadership row between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard showed them both parliament’s exit doors.

I would not be surprised with a similar outcome if Mr Turnbull and Mr Abbott refuse to act on Mr Greiner’s advice.

Usman Mahmood,

South Bowenfels.