Milk Producer - December 2009 - (Page 31)

HERDHEALTH By Ann Godkin Ready to launch ntario’s dairy industry has developed a provincial plan to deal with Johne’s disease, and is encouraging all producers to participate. Using prevention as the guiding principle and incorporating international research and proven field practices, the program is set to kick off in January 2010. O The four elements of Ontario’s new Johne's program starting in Janaury 2010 are: 1. Education and extension for producers and vets 2. A mandatory animal health and Johne's Disease Risk Assessment and Management Plan (the RAMP), done each year 3. A one-time, voluntary herd test (all cows on one test day) with reimbursement of $8 per test. 4. Removal of high-test positive cows to rendering or by on-farm disposal (required for reimbursement). plan that details what can and will be done in the next year. It will be up to you and your vet to decide what is best for the herd, and your responsibility to implement the recommendations. When you take steps to reduce new Johne’s infections, you will also reduce new infections caused by other organisms, improving overall herd health. You can contact your own vet directly to schedule the RAMP. This can be done as part of a routine herd health visit. Once it’s completed, your vet will submit the RAMP summary page to the Johne’s program co-ordinator. How will testing work? Each producer will be allotted a sixweek testing window. The list of who can test when will be published in this issue of The Milk Producer. The schedule will also be available on the program website. You will receive a Testing Submission Form (known as a “green sheet”) with your DFO monthly statement just prior to your allotted testing time, or window. Once you receive the green sheet, you can choose the testing option that works best for you: • instruct DHI staff to have your test-day samples tested at that time for Johne’s at CanWest DHI using the milk ELISA. You can contact DHI directly if you’re not on regular service; • request your vet to set up blood sampling and testing at the Animal Health Laboratory in Guelph using the serum ELISA. The green sheet is sent in with the samples to be tested at either laboratory to indicate the samples are part of the Johne’s program. What’s in the program? The program has four elements: 1.education; 2.the animal health Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP); 3.testing; 4.removal of high-titre Johne’s cows. The program offers you a financial incentive to test all lactating cows once during the four years of the program. You also have to do the RAMP with a trained herd veterinarian each year, and remove high-titre cows within 90 days of test day. What’s the animal health Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP)? DFO requires doing the RAMP annually on each licensed farm. An annual animal health evaluation is needed for export of Ontario dairy products and has the potential to improve animal health. The RAMP questionnaire guides you and your vet step-by-step through calf-raising and general sanitation practices. The goal is to look for risks that could allow Johne’s bacteria to infect calves on your farm. After completing the questionnaire, you and your vet draft a management How do you get reimbursed for testing on the program? If you test all lactating animals in your herd on test day during your testing window, you are eligible to MilkPRODUCER | December 2009 | 31

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milk Producer - December 2009

Milk Producer - December 2009
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Office Management
Seven Issues That Matter
Herd Health
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

Milk Producer - December 2009