Dairy: Risk assessment program for Johne’s disease can yield other benefits

Best to deal with the disease now, while prevalence is low, argues the province’s veterinarian. And risk assessments already done have helped get to the bottom of other problems as well

by SUSAN MANN

When Ontario’s dairy farmers complete the risk assessment as part of a new Johne’s disease education and management assistance program starting in January, they’ll learn a lot more about calf management.

“There are other problems that can be fixed with a Johne’s risk assessment,” says Dr. Ann Godkin, Ontario agriculture ministry veterinarian specializing in disease prevention. And that’s just one of the reasons she says farmers should participate in the voluntary Johne’s Disease Education and Management Assistance program.

Better Farming - December 2009