Johne’s Disease is an infectious bacterial disease of cattle and other ruminants which usually become infected in the early weeks of life.
In the latest Animal Health Ireland (AHI) bulletin, it details how one farm in Co. Meath dealt with the disease outbreak.
Between 2005 and 2012, it estimates that the disease was costing the 180 cow herd in the region of €20,000-30,000 on an annual basis.
According to the AHI, the farm sourced replacement stock from outside of Ireland, following a TB outbreak in the 1990s.
Within a three year period the entire herd of 180 milking cows was replaced by imported stock due to the continuing TB problem.
The AHI says that although clinical signs began to appear, the initial veterinary advice pointed to a problem with parasite control.
However, the cows on the farm were suffering from a Johne’s Disease outbreak and in 2005, it became involved in the Johne’s Disease control programme operated by the Department of Agriculture.
Between 2005 and 2012, an average of 20 clinical cases were culled each year but this number was reduced in the later years.
The AHI also reports the efforts to tackle Johne’s disease have continued on the farm, while the herd has grown in size from 180 to 400 cows since 2005.
It says that the farm joined the AHI Johne’s Disease voluntary programme from the start in 2014 and have further improved the farming practices as a result of the on-farm risk assessment.
The apparent herd prevalence has gone from 40% when they first started on their journey to an apparent herd prevalence today of 2% with no clinical cases.
Since they began to tackle the disease on their farm, the AHI says they have seen improved fertility and a significant reduction in the use of antibiotics on the farm with a general improvement in the health of the herd.