title: Variability in Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) scores completed as part of the Ontario Johne's Education and Management Assistance Program(2010-2013).
abstract: As a proactive measure toward controlling the nontreatable and contagious Johne's disease in cattle, the Ontario dairy industry launched the voluntary Ontario Johne's Education and Management Assistance Program in 2010. The objective of this study was to describe the results of the first 4 yr of the program and to investigate the variability in Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) scores associated with the county, veterinary clinic, and veterinarian. Of 4,158 Ontario dairy farms, 2,153 (51.8%) participated in the program between January 2010 and August 2013. For this study, RAMP scores and whole-herd milk or serum ELISA results were available from 2,103 farms. Herd-level ELISA-positive prevalence (herds with one or more test-positive cows were considered positive) was 27.2%. Linear mixed model analysis revealed that the greatest RAMP score variability was at the veterinarian level (24.2%), with relatively little variability at the county and veterinary clinic levels. Consequently, the annual RAMP should be done by the same veterinarian to avoid misleading or discouraging results.
authors: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Pieper
authors: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
authors: Trevor J
authors: TJ
authors: DeVries
authors: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
authors: Ulrike S
authors: US
authors: Sorge
authors: Veterinary Science and Policy Group, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food/Ministry of Rural Affairs (OMAF/MRA), Ontario, Canada, N1G 4Y2.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Godkin
authors: Strategic Solutions Group, Puslinch, Ontario, Canada, N0B 2J0.
authors: Karen J
authors: KJ
authors: Hand
authors: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
authors: Nicole R
authors: NR
authors: Perkins
authors: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Imada
authors: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1. Electronic address: dkelton@uoguelph.ca.
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: Kelton
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003612:Dairying / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: control program; paratuberculosis; participation; risk assessment