HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today urged producers to participate in a herd certification program to combat Johne's disease, a contagious intestinal infection that severely affects animals that digest their food in two steps (cows, goats, sheep and camels, for example) and costs the state's dairy industry more than $14.3 million each year.
Responding to research performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which showed that acceptable management practices rather than a quarantine are more effective ways to decrease the infection rate of this costly disease, Wolff rescinded the quarantine in all Pennsylvania counties this past August. The quarantine was in place since 1975.
"Science has proven that management practices are the key to best controlling the spread of this devastating infection," said Wolff. "I urge all producers to participate in the Johne's Disease Herd Certification Program, ensuring optimal animal health and farm profitability in Pennsylvania."
Johne's disease is caused by mycobacterium avium paratubersulosis, bacteria that infects cattle, sheep and goats early in life. Infected animals do not show signs of the disease until a year or more after infection when weight loss, diarrhea, production decreases and death result.
Recent research has shown that management practices protect newborn and young animals from exposure to infected adult animals, including their milk and manure, preventing new infections.
The voluntary Johne's Herd Certification Program promotes these practices along with testing plans, animal replacement strategy and animal identification, to limit exposure to the bacteria. The result is to help farmers control, reduce and eventually eliminate Johne's disease from their herds.
"The updated regulations remove the false sense of security surrounding the quarantine program," said Wolff. "Farmers who were not testing for Johne's disease can now easily participate in the certification program, allowing for a customized control program to be tailored for the individual farm, including regular testing."
The certification program is based on sound management and biosecurity practices that control Johne's disease and reduce the likelihood of infections from salmonella, cryptosporidiosis and E. coli.
For more information about the Johne's Disease Herd Certification Program, call 717-783-8300 or visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/. Click on "Animal and Plant Health" then "Johne's Disease."
CONTACT: Nicole L. Cullison
(717) 787-5085
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
