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5-3-2004 |
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EXPANDS WEST VIRGINIA CATTLE TESTING PROGRAM The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is expanding
an existing program to combat a parasite that can cause spontaneous
abortion of calves. Tests for the disease requires only a phone
call to your local veterinarian or WVDA’s Animal Health Division. The Johne’s (pronounced “yo-nees”) disease testing
program began in 2002, and has tracked the prevalence of the ailment,
which damages the ability of ruminants’ small intestines to
absorb nutrients. The disease causes diarrhea, weight loss and eventually
the death of the animal. It is estimated that 8 percent of beef
herds and 17 percent of dairy herds in West Virginia are carrying
Johne’s disease. Neospora caninum is a rare parasitic protozoa that is carried
by dogs, foxes and coyotes and shed in their feces. Until now, no
research has been done in West Virginia. If a pregnant cow ingests
the parasite, it can result in a spontaneous abortion of the calf.
A treatment and a vaccine are available. No treatment or vaccine
is available for Johne’s. Both diseases can be detected from
a single blood sample. “It’s important for our beef and dairy producers to understand
Johne’s disease and to take steps to eradicate, or prevent
it from being introduced to their herds,” said Commissioner
of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “It’s also important that
they test for neospora caninum. Both are diseases that can really
take their toll on the productivity of our farms in West Virginia.” WVDA State Veterinarian Joe Starcher said that Johne’s is
widespread throughout the world, but that good management practices
can effectively control and eliminate it within individual herds. “The first thing to do is to test and determine if you have
Johne’s on your farm,” said Starcher. “If your animals
are negative, then it’s extremely important not to buy the
disease when you purchase replacement animals. Johne’s can
live for up to a year in the environment, so buy only from herds
that have been certified free of the disease.” A national study of U.S. dairies found that approximately 22 percent
of U.S. dairy farms have at least 10 percent of the herd infected
with Johne’s disease. The study determined that infected herds
experience an average loss of $75 per cow annually due to reduced
milk production, early culling and poor conditioning at culling. Data on beef cattle is less complete, but it is well known that
Johne’s slows weight gain and hurts milk production, which
also affects calves that may or may not have the disease. Contact: Buddy Davidson The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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