Deadly disease closes cattle studs in Queensland

BEEF properties in Queensland have been locked down after a deadly cattle disease erupted on a Rockhampton stud.

BEEF properties in Queensland have been locked down after a deadly cattle disease erupted on a Rockhampton stud.

Biosecurity staff are scrambling to isolate farms that received stock exposed to bovine Johne's disease, and the state government appealed to owners not to take matters in their own hands and destroy the animals.

Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh did not say how many properties were affected or whether cattle transported from the source stud had tested positive to BJD.

The highly infectious disease causes chronic diarrhoea in cattle, emaciation and death. It is endemic in Victoria, parts of NSW and South Australia.

Movement restrictions have been imposed on a number of properties.

"Affected producers are urged not to move or slaughter trace forward stock as this may greatly extend the time a property is under movement restrictions," Mr McVeigh said.