Biosecurity Queensland is continuing the fight against Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) with the appointment of an Industry Liaison Officer.
Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh said Dr Ron Glanville would attend his first meeting with the beef industry this Wednesday.
“Dr Glanville has more than 30 years’ experience as a vet in biosecurity,” Mr McVeigh said.
“As a former chief veterinary officer with the Department, Dr Glanville will play a key role in liaising with cattle producers,” Mr McVeigh said.
“Dr Glanville was instrumental in the eradication of Equine Influenza from Queensland in 2008.”
Mr McVeigh said Biosecurity was well underway in the testing process.
“The first batch of priority samples has been collected and the laboratory has commenced testing. We are expecting more samples to arrive today to be processed,” he said.
“The current BJD testing process is highly complex and a number of concurrent tests must be carried out to effectively test for BJD which can take 12 weeks or more if complications arise.
“The first round of results is expected to be received around mid-March 2013.”
The Member for Burnett, Steve Bennett met with the Minister for Agriculture last week on behalf of cattle producers in the Burnett electorate. “Cattle producers need to have confidence in Biosecurity Queensland and the Government to deal with this serious disease”, he said.
“Testing is continuing at Toowoomba and Coopers Plains laboratories, and our commitment to primary producers to help combat BJD continues”, Mr Bennett said.
Biosecurity Queensland sent risk assessment documents to affected producers on Friday to help them prepare for on-property assessments. The documents and fact sheets are also available on the Biosecurity Queensland website, www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au
For more information on BJD in Queensland, call 13 25 23.
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