The Milk Producer - November 2008 - (Page 8)

Nov Update:New Template 10/29/2008 12:44 PM Page 1 DAIRYUPDATE Proactive approach DFO contemplates multi-level provincial program to curb spread of Johne’s disease By Sharon Laidlaw O ntario dairy producers could benefit from improved herd health and a proactive approach to protect their markets with a proposed $2 million a year provincial program to help curb the spread of Johne’s disease in their herds. A full program outline is still being worked on and will be presented at the 2009 spring regional meetings for consideration. Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is considering using money from pay-what-you-bid funds, a producer licence fee check-off or both to help implement a multistep voluntary prevention program to reduce Johne’s economic impact on Ontario dairy farms. George MacNaughton, DFO’s director of production and regulatory compliance, unveiled the proposal at DFO’s recent Fall Policy Conference. Johne’s disease is a non-treatable, chronic, debilitating disease that affects the intestines of all ruminants, including cattle. As part of a provincial plan consistent with Canada’s national Johne’s prevention strategy, DFO is taking proactive steps in addressing growing international discussion and ongoing research about a possible link between Johne’s and Crohn’s disease in humans. “We need to be proactive rather than reactive to help the industry 8 | November 2008 | MilkPRODUCER Preventing newborn calf infections, among other components, is a primary focus of the new program. manage this disease before it becomes a bigger problem,” MacNaughton said after the conference. “The slightest public perception of a link existing between Johne’s and Crohn’s could be detrimental to our industry.” The program, developed by a joint government and industry working group, consists of four primary components: • educate producers about Johne’s disease; • implement an annual risk assessment for producers and herd veterinarians to prevent newborn calf infections; • develop a subsidized individual cow testing program; • offer grants to producers to remove shedding cows. Several funding options are being considered, including paying for the producer portion of the program with pay-what-you-bid funds or combining it with a producer checkoff. DFO is also hoping to secure provincial funding from the Growing Forward initiative and from the federal government’s new Agricultural Policy Framework.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - November 2008

The Milk Producer - November 2008
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO�Chair's Message
Dairy Update
DFC Promotion
Farm Finance
Forage Fallout
Issues Update
Research
Applied Science
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - November 2008