A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday December 13, 2003 Penn State Cooperative Extension Capitol Region Dairy Team ANIMAL HEALTH ISSUES A FOCAL POINT FOR CONSUMERS, PRODUCERS Galen Kopp Extension Agent Dairy/Livestock Lebanon County The hardships faced by Euro pean producers with the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are a prime example of the im portance of biosecurity for pro duction agriculture in today's global and mobile environment. Here m the U.S., Johne’s Dis ease is another prime example, as the disease silently robs economic returns before producers even suspect a problem. There are consumer issues at stake. While there is no conclu sive evidence, researchers are ex amining the similarity between Johne's Disease and human Crohn’s Disease, as both are Farm-City Event Promotes Understanding (Continued from Page A2B) came from a Romney/Corriedale cross, and the design is one of a kind. Don Hoffer, crop farmer, placed the top bid of $625 to present the shawl to his wife Shirley. The price was the most ever paid in the event's 15-year histo n. The auctioned monies help pav the expenses of the banquet. During the reception before the banquet, many commodity groups offered free samples and literature to attendees. Numerous door prizes were also awarded through a drawing. Galen Kopp chronic intestinal diseases. Epi demiological studies have not es tablished any connection between human contact with Johne’s-in fected animals and Crohn’s. Moreover, pasteurization and proper cooking eliminate oppor tunities for contamination. But there is a public concern about the potential link between the two. This is why the industry needs to document success in identifying and controlling such diseases. Biosecurity is defined as man- Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen Amber Shol lenberger promotes the use of wool and lamb during the reception conducted at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. agement practices which prevent introduction of disease onto the farm or its spread within the farm. Such preventive manage ment practices begin with aware ness. Unfortunately, recent sur veys conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring Serv ice (NAHMS) indicate that about half of all dairy producers are un familiar with diseases such as Johne’s. NAHMS estimates that at least 22 percent of the nation’s dairy herds have cows infected with Johne's. The cost is more than $2OO per cow in inventory each year, due mostly to decreased milk production and premature culling. This disease is easy to miss un less you investigate for it. Just be cause you do not see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. What makes the disease so challenging is that it has a long incubation period and progresses slowly. If symp toms do appear (long-lasting di arrhea and weight loss, despite good appetite), they are often confused with other illnesses. And they often occur after a stressful event such as calving, which further confuses diagnosis. The primary route of transmis (Lancaster Lancaster Poured [ Farming's ® • Agriculture j •Commercial •Residential it——- L Classified Call for Prices On: _ _ _ • NRCS approved Manure Storage Pits • Concrete AdS Get •Basements • Retaining Walls Pumping • Footers • Foundation Walls Customer Satisfaction Is Our Goal Results. Lancaster Poured Walls, Inc. 2542 Horseshoe Rd.» Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 656-7370 » Fax (717) 656-7350 44 th Anniversary 1959-2003 Coitoner Appreciation Days HOSTETTER SALES & SERVICE INC. Tue 10% DISCOUNT On All Sanitation and Animal HealthProducls purchased and paid lor at open house. CMiSsiMsss Irom Advanced Agn Solutions Directions: Along Route 934, in Bellegrove, 4 Miles North of Annville.PA. 4 Miles South of Rt. 22 & Rt. 81 Phone 717-867-2896 Fax 717-867-5636 sion for Johne’s and other dis eases within a herd is fecal con tamination. Biosecurity measures aimed at reducing or eliminating contamination of calves through fecal matter and colostrum are the most powerful tools available. To prevent the spread of dis ease between animals on your farm: • Cows should calve in clean, uncrowded pens, which have been sanitized between occu- pants. • Feed bunks and troughs should be used for feeding and watering all stock on the farm. • Different equipment should be used for handling feed and manure. • Udders and teats should be cleaned thoroughly before collect ing colostrum. • Feed only colostrum from Johne’s-negative dams. Testing is an important tool, but since none of the tests avail able today are 100 percent accu rate for identifying Johne’s, con sult with your veterinarian to determine if a problem exists and design an effective management plan for your farm. When a new animal is pur chased, the entire disease history y, 10 AM to 4 PM Refreshments 11 AM to 2 PM Both Days =l <>4i* (westfaua) 4 May-O-Mats Cow Mats of the farm of origin is purchased along with it. To minimize the risk of intro ducing disease; • Purchase only test-negative animals from documented low risk herds. • When purchasing groups of animals for expansion, have your veterinarian discuss herd health records with the veterinarian of the herd of origin. • Isolate and quarantine new animals. • Practice thorough sanitation of facilities and require it for peo ple coming onto your farm. • Use a planned vaccination program as recommended by the herd veterinarian based on herd health history. Few diseases can be eradicated through treatment alone. • For some diseases, but gen erally not for Johne’s, vaccina tion programs can help manage the impact, but are not 100 per cent effective. • Strategic culling is often nec essary to improve herd health and prevent re-introduction of disease. Source: The Pennsylvania Beef Council and the National Beef Association. & 17
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