-v
Showing No Signs, Dairy Herd Can Have Johne’s Disease
(ContlmiM) from Pago A3O)
animals are certified Johne’s-free.
If using in-house stock, the calves
must be removed from the mater
nity area as soon as possible the
bacterium can be present in the
milk of the infected dam. (Also,
the bacterium can spread through
out the dam and embed itself in
other tissues, and the bacterium
can be transferred to the unborn
calf.)
Producers need to focus a grea
ter amount of attention to the
calves in this critical, early post
partum period, said Sweeney, and
put them on colostrum or milk
replacer that is bacterium-free.
Producers need to keep their
equipment clean, in addition to the
facilities. The bacterium can
spread easily, especially when
using a front loader to supply feed
and haul manure without cleaning
the equipment
Bulls also can spread the dis
ease. The bacterium can survive in
semen
They key to fighting the disease,
according to Sweeney, is to realize
that the more concentrated the
Production
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Milk production in Pennsylva
nia during January 1994 totaled
BSB million pounds, I percent
above last year’s production,
according to the Pennsylvania
Agricultural Statistics Service
(PASS).
The number of milk cows in the
state during the month averaged
650,000 head, down 4,000 head
from December and 6,000 fewer
than January 1993.
Production per cow averaged
1,320 pounds in January, 25
pounds more than December and
up 30 pounds from January a year
ago.
Pennsylvania’s milk production
for 1993 totaled 10.2 billion
pounds, 2 percent less than the
10.4 billion produced in 1992.
Pennsylvania ranked fourth in
milk production for 1993. The
average number of milk cows dur
ing the year was 650,000, which is
15,000 fewer than the previous
year.
Production per cow during
1993 totaled 15,677 pounds, com
pared to 15,823 pounds during
1992. There were 13,000 milk
cow farms in 1993,1,000 less than
during 1992.
Milk production in the 21 states
surveyed during January 1994 tot
aled 10.6 billion pounds, 122 mil-
lion pounds less than the same
slates m January 1993. December
revised production at 10.5 billion
pounds was 2 percent below
December 1992. The number of
milk cows averaged 8.04 million
head, down 2 percent from a year
earlier, while production per cow
averaged 1,319 pounds, 14 pounds
above January of last year.
Total U.S. milk production in
1993 was 151.0 billion pounds,
down less than 1 percent from
1992. There were 9.71 million
milk cows during the year, com
pared to 9.84 in 1992. Average
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organisms, the greater the chance
of spread. Sanitation and proper
management of calves will ensure
that the concentration is kept to
controllable levels.
A producer panel drew on some
of the experiences that Lancaster
County dairy farmers had with
treating Johne’s disease on their
herds. Both herds have managed to
control the disease through careful
management of stock and using
biosecurity santitation and
clean equipment. Also, producers
must protect access to water sour
ces and feed to make sure those do
not become contaminated with the
bacterium.
Millie Widmann, a dairy fanner
in Oxford, and Larry Hamish, who
farms in Washington Boro, dealt
with Johne’s disease a few years
ago. Widmann said that an animal
they purchased in 1981 spread the
infection throughout her farm. In
1983, she began working with
New Bolton Center. Of 42 samples
taken late that year, 16 came back
positive. Working closely with
New Bolton, they were able to rid
Increases
milk production per cow for 1993
was 15,544 pounds, 135 pounds
more than the previous year.
Dairy Refund
Deadline
March 15
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
The Lancaster County ASCS
Office is currently issuing refunds
for amounts deducted from 1993
commercial milk marketings
under the Dairy Refund Payment
Program (DRPP).
The program is authorized
under the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1990 as
amended by the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993.
Paul Kline chairperson of
the Lancaster County ASC Com
mittee, said any producer who
provides evidence that they did
not market more milk in 1993 than
in 1992, or if they went out of the
dairy business during the refund
period, did not market more milk
for the same days and months of
1992, will be eligible to receive
the entire amount deducted from
their milk proceeds if he or she
meets the eligibility requirements
and claims the refund by March
15.
Under the DRPP, milk produc
ers requesting a refund must
establish their milk marketings for
the refund year, 1993, and the
immediate preceding calendar
year, 1992, before the refund
request is made. Refund request
must be made by March 15.
The 1990 Act calls for an 11.25
cents per hundredweight reduc
tion in the price received by pro
ducers for all milk produced and
marketed for commercial use in
calendar year 1993.
This amount was increased on
May 1,1993 by 5.1 cents per hun
dredweight, for a total of 16.35
cents per hundredweight, to com
pensate for refunds paid under the
1992 program. This rate remained
in effect through October 1993.
The Omnibus Budget Reconcil
iation Act of 1993 provided for a
10 percent decrease in the amount
of the reduction in the price
received by producers during
November and December 1993,
for a total of 14.71 cents per
hundredweight
A producer panel examined some of the ways different dairies treated their herds
for Johne’s disease on Tuesday at the Lancaster County Dairy Days, part 2. From left,
Dr. Larry Hutchinson, extension veterinarian, Penn State, moderator; Dr. Ray Swee
ney, New Bolton School of Veterinary Medicine; Millie Widmann, dairy farmer, Oxford;
Larry Harnish, dairy farmer, Washington Boro; and Dr. Robert Whitlock, New Bolton
Center.
the bacteria from the herd through
careful cleanup of hutches, equip
ment, and separating the mature
animals from the calves. It took
them six years to have their first
negative lest in 1989. They con
tinue to test twice a year.
Hamish operates a small, closed
herd. Hamish said that he didn’t
see visual signs of the disease, and
only through testing did they And
evidence of Johne’s in their herd.
He wanted to stop Johne’s before it
became a problem because he sells
replacement stock.
Herds can become certified free
Holstein Convention Set For March 11
(Continued from Pago A 1)
who is to start the annual business
meeting.
During the meeting breed
improvement awards, junior
awards and progressive breeder
awards are to be presented.
Lunch is by reservation only and
cost $l2 per person, with no
charge for children aged 3-years or
less, and half price for children
aged 4 years to 10 years.
The evening banquet fee is $2O
per person and includes a social
hour, a buffet dinner, the presenta
tion of junior awards by Anne
Davis, the introduction of the judg
ing team by Dr. Lee Majeskie, a
fun auction and entertainment.
The fun auction is help raise
funds for the state Holstein
Association.
There are two alternative sche
dules for the day’s events one
for women, and the other for the
youth.
All programs include guest
speakers.
For the regular meeting, the
guest speaker is to be Dr. Mark
Varner, an associate protessor
with the Unversity of Maryland
and a dairy specialist in its
Cooperative Extension Service.
Vamer is to give a talk on Dairy-
L, which is a computer communi
cations network available through
county offices devoted specifically
to issues in the dairy industry, and
producer questions.
He is also to speak about the
Dutch dairy industry and some of
the trends in automation.
The Ladies’ Program is to be
held at the Ramada Inn with the
topic of guest speaker Jackie
Leimbach, a senior sales director
for Mary Kay Cosmetics, to be
“Looking Good, Feeling Good."
Leimbach is to demonstrate skin
care and glamour techniques.
In the afternoon the topic will be
“Color Logic.” Door prizes arc to
be offered also.
of the disease through the Pennsyl
vania Certified Paratuberculosis
Test-Negative Herd Program, Dr.
Robert Whitlock, DVM, New Bol
ton School of Veterinary Medi
cine, spoke about the state
program.
On evidence garnered from
New Bolton Center, lost lactation
dollars alone per cow could be
nearly $4OO on an annual basis
because of Johne’s. Also,
increased vet and wasted feed
costs point to the need for produc
ers to rid Johne’s from die herd.
The certified program in Pen-
Convention Schedule of Events
Ramada Inn, Hagerstown, Md.
Friday, March 11
9:30
10:30 a.m,
12:30 p.m,
1:45 p.m..
3 p.m.
10:30 a.m
12:30 p.m,
1:45 p.m..
10 a.m
11:30 a.m
12:30 p.m,
1:30 p.m..
2 p.m
6 a.m
7 p.m
8:15 p.m
8:45 p.m.
9 p.m
Saturday, March 12
MARYLAND CONVENTION SALE
11 a.m,
The youth at the convention are
to depart the Ramada Inn on Friday
morning between 9:45 a.m. and 10
a.m. fora trip to the Mid-East Milk
Testing Laboratory used for pro
cessing samples for the Dairy Herd
Improvement Association.
After the tour, the youth are to
return to the hotel for the junior
production awards segment of the
regular program, then for lunch,
nsylvania began in 1992. The
program does not guarantee the
herd will be free of Johne’s, but
that it will test negative, according
to Whitlock.
For producers to become
involved, they should first speak to
their veterinarian. A cooperative
agreement must be signed, and
other details worked out The
important thing to remember,
according to Whitlock, is that it
takes time to rid the herd, and pro
ducers must be cooperative and
patient in order to completely treat
the disease.
March 11-12
DAY MEETING
Registration
Welcome to Washington County
Annual Business Meeting
Breed Improvement Awards
Junior Awards
PBR Awards
Lunch (reservation only)
Guest Speaker, Or. Mark Varner
Topic: Trends in Dutch Dairy Industry
Visit exhibits, farm visits
LADIES PROGRAM
Guest Speaker, Jackie Leimbach
Topic: Looking Good, Feeling Good
Lunch (reservation only)
Topic: Color Logic
YOUTH PROGRAM
Tour of Mid-East Milk Lab
Production Awards
Pizza Party
Business Meeting
Guest Speaker, Dr. Tom Mercuro
Topic: Advancements in Bovine Reproduction
BANQUET
Social Hour, Milk Punch, Dairy Bar
Buffet Dinner
Presentation of Jr. Awards
Fun Auction
Entertainment. Karaoke
Convention Sale
Western Md. Reserach Center
Sharpsburg, Md.
the youth are to return to the lab for
pizza.
The youth will have their busi
ness meeting after lunch, followed
by guest speaker Tom Mercuro,
from Mid-Marlyand Dairy Vets,
who is to give a presentation on the
advancements in bovine reproduc
tion. He is also to discuss artificial
insemination, embryo transfer, and
demonstrate an ultrasound.