GoatMAP to provide greater confidence

The latest Australian Market Assurance Program for Goats (GoatMAP) manual was released last year and is made up of three modules.

The program allows herds to demonstrate transparency to be able to sell breeding or herd replacement goats with confidence.

Animal Health Australia manages GoatMAP and head of program Rob Barwell said a significant review was undertaken and the Goat Industry Council of Australia decided it would remain but include a new module - CAEMAP.

"It aims to identify, protect, and promote herds at low risk of being infected with CAE - caprine arthritis encephalitis," Dr Barwell said.

"It is based on herd testing to detect the infection, property and herd biosecurity management to minimise the risk of introducing and spreading CAE in the herd."

Dr Barwell said herd testing was used to assess the likelihood of infection.

He said this could be achieved by individual animal testing or by regular testing of bulk milk for dairy herds.

"There are two testing pathways but milk testing is a relatively new idea. The research was undertaken by the Elizabeth Macarthur Ag Institute, NSW."

A series of negative herd tests at regular intervals is required for a herd to attain and retain a monitored CAE negative status.

The GoatBIO module is the first step for producers to undertake and then with the help of a veterinarian, they can tackle the other two modules.

GoatBio is the baseline biosecurity required before disease modules can be completed and It should compliment other biosecurity programs such as the Livestock Production Assurance program, according to Dr Barwell.

"If producers are already undertaking biosecurity for LPA, they are well-placed to be ticked off for GoatBIO module under the GoatMAP program," he said.

The JDMAP module picks up the other components from the original Johne's disease section of the program.

A herd maintains a status through blood or faecal testing or vaccination with Gudair. This JD vaccine is mostly used by the sheep sector but is registered for goats, according to Dr Barwell.

"As a herdowner, under the previous system, producers needed to work with a veterinarian which was GoatMAP approved but this is no longer required," he said.

"Though there is online training available."

But Dr Barwell said most importantly, a vet would need to undertake an annual review with the producer for all three modules.

GOATS are susceptible to the same diseases as sheep and cattle, so producers need to manage stock health with all species in mind.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Qld, small ruminant extension officer Bec Brayley believed "everything" was easier for producers if biosecurity decisions were made on the ground, ahead of time.

"Dairy, fibre goats and stud goats are usually more intensively managed and more likely to be vaccinated along with a solid health history but producers still need to ask questions to be ahead of any potential risks," Ms Brayley said.

"Never assume stock have a clean bill of health."

Ms Brayley said rangeland goats in particular can come through depots, with unknown origins.

She said goats often had unknown health histories and penned with goat mobs from other origins and cause disease issues.

"Goats can be stressed by mustering and transport. Stress can make them more susceptible to common diseases."

Ms Brayley said an incident involving hundreds of goats which perished in a delivery from Transit tetany showed the importance of a biosecurity plan.

"Stock had worms and salmonella and in this case, no arrival quarantine was undertaken and goats were put into paddocks where they could not be re-mustered.

"If stock had been quarantined on arrival the problem could have been minimised."