CHANGES to the WA's Ovine Johne's Disease (OJD) status could impact the number of sheep heading across the border from WA.
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From January next year, WA's OJD status will change from its current level of four (low prevalence) to two (medium prevalence), which is the same status as Victoria.
WA OJD advisory committee chair Chris Richardson said the impact of WA's OJD status change would depend on where sheep were headed and what they were destined for.
Mr Richardson said if the sheep were sold for slaughter then it would not be a problem, but if they were sold for grazing, it would be dependent on where they were sold to.
"If they are going to a grazing area then it depends on the requirements of that area," Mr Richardson said.
"So that area requires four points and we've only got two, they will need to have done something and that will depend on what the local state's rules are.
"In some jurisdictions they require four points but if you buy sheep at two then they'll let you go down to two points.
"It really depends on what's required for where the sheep are going.
"I wouldn't expect too many problems in Victoria, there could be some in parts of NSW and you would need an extra point to get into Queensland.
"The only State where there would be a problem would be SA. That is the only State with an active control program for OJD, but I believe the SA OJD Advisory Committee will be meeting about the issue next week."
In last week's Farm Weekly, it was reported that a massive number of sheep were currently being trucked across the border, but South Australian agents were concerned that the trade could dry up when the proposed changes came into effect.
Combined Independent Agents Association president Matthew Starr said WA prices were still cheaper than Jamestown and Dublin markets but the opportunity to find breeding ewes there may all end abruptly with changes to the new OJD rules.
"WA will become a score 2 so unless farmers are willing to devalue their properties to a 2 and inject to get their score back up there is no way around it," Mr Starr said.
Mid North agent Peter Hill, H&R Livestock, said if proposed OJD changes are implemented many SA farmers may "not worry about sheep" due to the difficulty of sourcing breeding ewes from interstate and only being able to trade with NSW.
Mr Richardson said it was the responsibility of the purchaser to request OJD details, but if a producer wanted to sell into a certain market then it was their responsibility to get the number of points required for that market.
That may mean both vaccination and having some sort of abattoir test conducted to attain extra points, he said.
"The only real impact from this change will be for seedstock producers selling rams into eastern Australia, they will need to be across the requirements for where the rams are going to," he said.
"The other impact will be on producers wishing to sell breeding stock to the Eastern States.
"Those producers should seek advice from their Agriculture and Food Department vet or stock inspector to find out the right protocols."
