Japan has temporarily suspended live cattle imports from Australia, after a consignment from Melbourne tested positive for Bovine Johne's disease.

A spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Thursday said 300 dairy heifers were sent to Japan last month, but it was not known how many of them tested positive for the muscle wasting disease.

The Japanese Government said it was the largest infection rate in a shipment.

Chief Executive of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council Alison Penfold said the shipment of cattle had been tested for the disease before it left Australia.

"The consignment was certified as eligible prior to export, meaning that the testing at the time had negative results [in Australia]," she said.

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"…We certainly support the work that's underway, and the talks are underway, and certainly we'll work with the Government to assure how biosecurity and health status is preserved," she said.

Technical experts within the Australian and Japanese governments were now reviewing the test results, she said.

Japan is Australia's ninth largest cattle market

Ms Penfold said it was a small but significant market, particularly for Wagyu breeders.

"I'm not aware of where the consignment was sourced from, though if they are dairy heifers they're most likely to come out of Victoria," she said.

"The trade to Japan across any type of cattle is relatively small, last year we exported 10,500 head of cattle, the majority of which are high value Wagyu rather than dairy."

The Australian Department of Agriculture said it was investigating the incident to confirm the cattle which tested positive were prepared according to the importing country requirements.

"The department is working closely with the Japanese authorities on this issue," a spokesperson said.

It is unclear how long the import suspension will last.

