title: Estimate of the direct production losses in Canadian dairy herds with subclinical Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection.
abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate the annual losses from Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) for an average, MAP-seropositive, Canadian dairy herd. A partial-budget simulation model was developed with 4 components of direct production losses (decreased milk production, premature voluntary culling, mortality, and reproductive losses). Input values were obtained primarily from a national seroprevalence survey of 373 Canadian dairy farms in 8 of 10 provinces. The model took into account the variability and uncertainty of the required input values; consequently, it produced probability distributions of the estimated losses. For an average Canadian dairy herd with 12.7% of 61 cows seropositive for MAP, the mean loss was $2992 (95% C.I., $143 to $9741) annually, or $49 per cow per year. Additional culling, decreased milk production, mortality, and reproductive losses accounted for 46%, 9%, 16%, and 29% of the losses, respectively. Canadian dairy producers should use best management practices to reduce these substantial annual losses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550, University Ave, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: VanLeeuwen
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Dohoo
authors.forename: Greg P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: Alfons
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weersink
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003612:Dairying / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial