Evaluation of progress made by dairy and beef herds enrolled in the Minnesota Johne's Disease Control Program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate progress made by cattle herds in the control of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) through participation in the Minnesota Johne's Disease Control Program (MNJDCP).


METHODS
Retrospective records analysis.


METHODS
Data for dairy and beef herds participating in the MNJDCP.


METHODS
Data for the MNJDCP were collected for analyses. Outcome measures included changes in numbers of participating cattle producers, risk assessment scores, and within-herd seroprevalence of Johne's disease by year of program participation.


RESULTS
Results revealed steady increases in program participation by cattle producers in Minnesota over time, with > 30% of dairy producers and 2% of beef producers in the state participating by the end of 2006. Despite risk of introduction of Johne's disease to cattle herds through continued introduction of cattle from other herds, dairy and beef herds in the Management Program of the MNJDCP reduced their on-farm risk assessment scores during the program. Dairy herds in the Management Program reduced their mean within-herd seroprevalence 1.1% during the first year, 2.6% during the first 2 years, and 4.0% during the first 3 years of program participation. Significant within-herd seroprevalence reduction was also detected for beef herds that participated in the Management Program for at least 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed a reduction in the risk of withinherd transmission of Johne's disease and seroprevalence over time in dairy and beef herds in the Management Program of the MNJDCP. This is consistent with a positive effect of the program for the control of Johne's disease in cattle.
Wells
Scott J
SJ
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Hartmann
William L
WL
Anderson
Paul L
PL
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial