Minimize Risk...Reduce Impact...Eliminate Johne's

2005 USAHA Johne's Meeting Notes

Report of the National Johne’s Working Group by RH Whitlock & John Adams:

The NJWG held a two day meeting in Hershey, PA on November 3 & 4, 2005. Approximately 125 persons attended the two-day meeting. The meeting was opened with self-introductions of all attendees. Current membership of the NJWG is 75 persons, with 9 USAHA officers and 20 corresponding members on the NJWG list serve.

Strategic Plan for National Johne’s Program: Bob Ehlenfeldt, chair of the Johne’s Committee reported that a two day meeting was held in July, 2005 in Ames, Iowa to review the Strategic Plan for the National Johne’s Program. No sustentative changes were made to the plan as was approved at the 2004 Johne’s Committee meeting. However, based on discussions at this meeting the Johne’s Integrated Program (JDIP) has agreed to prepare a “white paper” on reasons why producer participation in the National Johne’s Program is perceived as low.

Budget & Steering Committee Report: John Adams reported that congress would approve a reduced level of support for Johne’s Disease while Wisconsin would receive the same allocation as previously. Congress needs good data about the number of herds and cattle enrolled in this voluntary program. The GDB tracking of enrolled herds seems to underestimate the total numbers of cattle and herds enrolled. Now that Johne’s disease is a larger line item in the agricultural budget, it is anticipated that VS request will include $13 M for Johne’s and not the $3.5 previously requested.

Treasurer’s Report for NJWG: Ken Olson reported the current balance is $27,568.74, of which $27,000 came from CD sponsors and $32,135 from sales from 851 Copies of the JD-ROM. CD expenses to date were $71,140. The supply of Johne’s booklets on Risk Assessments, and Management Plans for Dairy & Beef are nearly depleted and may be reprinted by USAHA office.

Funding Options for Category 1 Funds for States: Mike Carter presented several different formulas to determine the level of Johne’s cooperative agreement funding for States. The following options were discussed at some length about their inclusion in the formula for state funding. State contributions, or “in-kind” funds, percent of cattle or herds enrolled in the national program, and the amount of Johne’s testing done. State contributions to the program, especially “in-kind” funds supporting JD programs would be difficult to document, but would reward those states that have legislative funding for Johne’s programs in that these funds would be leveraged by federal funds which would expand the program and encourage other states to seek JD funds from their legislatures. A straw vote of 15 in favor and 10 opposed was recorded. Consideration for the number of cows enrolled in the JD program was favored by 25 and opposed by 7 (supported by herds), while 22 supported and 5 opposed the current formula which places more emphasis on ELISA and fecal culture testing. MN has 15% of herds enrolled and 25% of the cows, reported Scott Wells. Another measure is milk production; NY State reported that 30 to 40% of milk production is from enrolled herds.

Based on house-senate conference committee the Johne’s budget for FY 2005-06 will be reduced by 30% ($5.5 million) to $13.186 million from $18.6 million appropriated for FY 04-05. Approximately 6,189 herds were enrolled in FY 2004 with an increase to 7,876 (27% increase) herds for 2005. We may need further clarification about what defines an enrolled herd? A management plan only or with testing and in either a control or status program. Last year the NJWG recommended 80% of the funds be used at the state level to enroll herds, approximately 60-65% was allocated to states. The following table was presented by Mike Carter, National Johne’s Coordinator.

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Advisory Committees	37	39	41	42	44	47	48
# States in Compliance with VBJDCP at the Beginning of Year	NA	NA	22	34	34	43	48
# Herds in VBJDCP	1952	1925	3254	4722	6189	7876	No Reports
Total Status Herds	390	514	631	543	993	1472	No Reports
ELISA Tests	359,601	342,045	614,210	549,810	673,299	697,264	No Reports
Cultures	44,961	43,218	100,403	97,057	101,786	105,685	No Reports

Knowledge Gaps Group: Co-Chairs Mike Carter & Bob Whitlock presented and distributed the report. The KG group began conference phone calls in early February, 2005 seeking to identify knowledge gaps, then categorized and finally prioritized knowledge gaps to prepare the attached report. Following a discussion, it was moved and seconded that the Knowledge Gaps report be included with the NJWG report and published in the USAHA proceedings with the Johne’s committee report.

VSMT Meeting with NJWG: John Adams, Co-Chair NJWG met with VMST on September 13, 2005 to have dialogue on several issues including: 1, VSMT priority to request funding National JD program within USDA 2, Demonstration Herd Project oversight 3, Program Administration with data about states contribution for funding and inadequacy of GDB to capture all pertinent data for reporting by states 4, Semi-annual reporting of progress on National Johne’s Program. VSMT provided a written response dated November 4, 2005.

Education Group: Co-Chairs, Frank Garry & Jeannette McDonald reminded the group that National Johne’s Control Program Standards require that Johne’s Certified Veterinarians need to be recertified every 3 years and that the first certified veterinarians are approaching that anniversary. The education committee felt it necessary that the NJWG agree upon a national core curriculum for recertification. A single page questionnaire was distributed for ranking possible topics by the NJWG members. The votes were then tabulated and presented to the NJWG with three recommendations to the Johne’s committee for adoption into the Program standards. The first recommendation was for a minimum list of topics that must be included in any recertification curriculum that would include: Review of Johne’s Basics; Epidemiology update; Testing and Interpretation, covering new and emerging tests, and best tests for different scenarios; National program review, highlighting any changes; JD Economics; and Marketing tips. The second recommendation was that these topics be added to the curriculum for first time Johne's certification of veterinarians. The third recommendation provided a second list of topics that are strongly suggested to be included in the recertification curriculum, their inclusion to be determined by the individual states. This list included: Correcting common misconceptions of certified veterinarians as identified by DJCs; Update on research regarding the zoonotic issue; Vaccine usage; and Potential use of Monensin in Johne's disease control. These three recommendations were unanimously approved and forwarded to the Johne's Committee for adoption into the Program standards.

The Wisconsin on-line JD training program has been adopted/approved by several sates and more states are considering it for both certification and re-certification programs to become certified veterinarian. The website has been updated to include virtual farm tours/inspections.

USDA-APHIS-VS & National Institutes of Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has launched a jointly sponsored Johne’s Educational Initiative during the summer of 2005. Ken Olson will coordinate this educational effort directed toward educating producers about the issues and risks associated with Johne’s disease. Ken has led the effort to have a ½ day session on Johne’s disease at the American Dairy Science meeting in Minnesota for the summer of 2006. The NIAA initiative will help producers in three key areas:

1. Minimize the risk of Johne’s disease entering their herd through implementation of proven management practices; 2. Reduce the economic impact in herds with the disease through enhanced management practices shown to reduce transmission within herds and 3. Work toward elimination of Johne’s in the herds that have the disease. A web site has been established to provide easy access to educational materials helpful for producers and veterinarians that need current information about Johne’s disease. www.Johnesdisease.org

Small Ruminant Group: Co-Chair-Sue Stehman reported that this committee has been re-formed and is ready to move forward. Monthly calls will be coordinated by Mike Carter’s office. Group members include: Suelee Robbe Austerman, Becky Manning, Cindy Wolf, Joan Rowe, Joan Bowen, Marie Bulgan, Idaho, Mary Jane Lis, Paul Rodgers, and K Marshall.

ELISA QC Monitoring and ELISA Check Testing: Heidi Schleicher-NVSL reported about the new z-score method of reporting results. Labs that incorrectly classify more than two samples will fail. Previously only pos/neg results were reported. Labs also reported results electronically for the first time this past year. The same sera was used both check tests kits (IDEXX & Biocor) for all participating labs. They will be using the same methods next year. This year 72 US labs and 9 international (Chile, Netherlands & Canada) labs participated in the National Johne’s ELISA check test. For those 43 labs using the Biocor test; 34 (88.4%) passed, and for the 57 labs using the IDEXX test, 49 (86%) passed.

ELISA QC Monitoring: Jason Lombard reported a low-positive control sera has been made available to any laboratory interested in evaluating their quality control. Sixty labs have requested the low-positive sera from NVSL, however only 26 labs have reported data to CEAH. There is a plan, depending on the budget, for NVSL to make these sera available at no cost in the future, if labs report data quarterly. Fifteen of the labs were using Idexx and reported results from 2,348 low positive samples run on 10 different kit lots. Eleven labs reported results from Biocor, representing 17 different kits and 984 samples. Measured variation in low positive results differed by manufacturer. The largest variation for the IDEXX kit was unmeasured (error) (50.3%). Lab to lab variation was the next highest at 32.5%. The kit to kit variation was very low at 3.9% compared to 37.5% in the pilot study. Variation in the BIOCOR low positive between kits was also reported, but due to recent changes in the kit controls and antigens used to coat the plates, can not be directly compared. Future analysis will account for the changes in the Biocor controls.

IDEXX ELISA Test: Lisa Estey indicated improvements have been made to the IDEXX ELISA kits to improve specificity without impairing sensitivity, especially in negative herds. This new kit also increased the distance of negative sera from the cut-off.

Biocor ELISA Test: Tom Kellner reported Biocor was recently purchased by Prionics (a Swiss company). The ELISA kits will be produced in Australia and sold through the Biocor name, and he will remain the technical representative for the Biocor ELISA kits.

Fecal Check Test Program for 2005: Janet Payeur reported 76 labs participated with 62 labs passing and 14 labs failing the annual check test. Labs reporting false positive test results failed the check test. 20 labs inadequately tested their results for mycobactin dependency. PCR testing was done by 21 labs with 16 passing and 5 labs failed the check test (IDEXX PCR test 50% (2 labs) passed, while with Tetracore 75% (8 labs) passed. Approved labs passing the fecal check test will be listed on NVSL website. More labs are passing now than those that are failing, and more labs are participating. With the centrifugation method (42 labs) 83% of the labs passed and three labs using sedimentation passed. Of 18 labs with the ESP system 15 passed while 3 of 4 labs passed with the Bactec 460 and 6 of 9 labs using the MGIT 960 passed.

Demonstration Herd Group-Chair: Scott Wells reported the national Demonstration herd project began in 2002, and was formed to define critical knowledge gaps, affect JD control, and to develop model strategies for JD. The objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of management and disease control, education and training of public and private practice vets, develop management testing and monitoring programs, and to create opportunities for add-on projects

Demonstration Herd Project: Jason Lombard indicated the Demonstration Herd Project currently includes 17 states with 24 beef operations and 67 dairy operations. Based on risk assessment evaluation of beef operations, the highest risk areas were additions/replacement management, pre-weaned calf management and calving area management. Beef prevalence estimates by birth cohort for both serology and fecal culture has remained relatively steady since 1997 at 3% and 11%, respectively. The highest risk areas on dairy operations were calving areas and addition/replacement management. Within-herd prevalence estimates on dairy operations, based on birth cohort, has decreased for both fecal culture and serology from 15% and 10%, respectively from cows born in 1995 to 12% and 5% for cows born in 2000. Investigators reported 2% of dairy animals removed from operations had clinical signs compatible with Johne's disease and 8% of cows removed were removed based on test result. Risk factors for dairy animals to test positive, by fecal culture and serology, were evaluated using logistic regression models. Cows born to test-positive dams were at increased risk of testing positive, as were cows on operations where the calving area and cow management area were at moderate or high risk for disease transmission. Milk production for cows testing fecal culture positive or strong positive on serum ELISA were significantly reduced compared to cows that tested negative.

A published report on the Demonstration Herd Project is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nahms/jddh_public/demoherd_oct2005.pdf

A meeting of Demonstration Herd Project investigators was held in Denver, CO in September. Many of the participating states gave presentations on the progress of the project in their state. Discussions focused on data collection, submission and communication. A new web-based data collection system was said to be functional by the end of 2005. There are plans in place to include demonstration herd presentations during the American Dairy Science Annual Meeting and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) meeting. Demonstration herd investigators are also encouraged to develop a poster presentation for AABP. Following the scheduled morning presentations at AABP, an afternoon meeting of investigators is again planned.

Ohio Demonstration Herd Project: Bill Shulaw discussed data from 3 herds. Culture of udder swabs from the base of the teats demonstrating convincingly that MAP could be detected in a very high percentage of those cultures. This technique demonstrated a need for management changes on herds with extensive JD infections, and how these infections can spread to calves so easily. Collection of colostrum from these cattle also represents a risk to transmit MAP, if the teats are cleaned inadequately.

Texas Demonstration Herd Project: Dr. Mario Villarino showed that sero-positive prevalence of JD can be reduced by management changes (54% in 4 years). A paired cohort study relative to lactation, age, and origin found a >9000 pound difference in the lifetime milk production of JD negative cows compared to JD positive cows on a herd of about 8,000 cows. Test evaluation of the ELISA in beef cattle (Brahman breed) are indicative of less than ideal test performance from the test, when used in conjunction with fecal testing in a parallel testing scheme. Economic analysis results suggest a better cost revenue value of using complete herd testing using fecal culture, regardless of the prevalence of Johne’s Disease in the herd, when testing Brahman cross cattle. The worse case scenario for testing Brahman influenced cattle will be the use of ELISA testing when the prevalence of JD is high (8.25%; seroprevalence). Work is currently being conducted to further evaluate the benefits of using serial testing schemes in Brahman and Brahman cross cattle.

Pooled Sample (Scott Wells) Focus on herd detection, and herd monitoring. Using ELISA first, and if positive moving to fecal culture. What amount of MAP in feces/gram is detectable? No one really knows, but it is believed to be ~3 factors of 10 differences between heavy shedders to low shedders.

Use of Environmental Samples and Pooling in NY: Sue Stehman reported on completed environmental studies on M. a. paratuberculosis (Map) survival and attenuation in manure handling systems, yielded results showing consistently high Map loads in raw manure pits in herds with higher prevalence of infection. Heavy shedders, present throughout the year, contributed to the environmental loads. The NY Johne's control program has increased focus on identification and removal of heavy shedders from farms as soon as possible. As within herd JD prevalence declines or as lower prevalence herds elect to monitor for Johne's, the trend in NY has been toward increased use of Johne's fecal culture. In such herds, fecal culture has a higher predictive value than serology for identification of heavy shedders. In an effort to extend laboratory capacity within existing facilities and to make Johne's fecal culture more economical in lower prevalence herds, pooled fecal culture was made available for use in herds enrolled in the Johne's management program. A rolling herd testing strategy was recommended to identify higher shedders prior to calving. Use of pooled cultures has been slowly increasing.

A new herd screening approach will be launched to identify low risk herds in NY. Based on environmental testing results in the low prevalence (1-2% fecal shedding) Demonstration Herds, twice annual environmental testing will be used to help identify lower risk herds that do not wish to join the Test Negative Status Program. NY Agriculture and Markets will provide support for the first two environmental tests to encourage herd enrollment in this test monitored program. We hope to develop a list of herds from which producers can purchase lower risk replacements.

Ohio Demonstration Herd Project-Use of Environmental and Pooled Fecal Samples: Bill Shulaw discussed data on environmental sampling and fecal sample pooling from 3 infected herds. Fecal samples were pooled randomly in groups of five animals and cultured in the TREK system. Five to ten percent of all pools were falsely negative but occurred when positive fecal samples in the pool were more than 32 days to positive (DTP). Across the 3 herds and two sampling periods, about 2% of positive pools were "false positive", similar to other reports of fecal pooling. In general, DTP in positive pools closely reflected the shortest DTP for any individual fecal sample in the pool even if multiple positive samples were in a pool. "Heavy" shedders in the pools were reliably detected by DTP <25 for the pool; in some of these cases the DTP for the pool was nearly the same as the DTP for the shortest sample suggesting it should be possible to routinely detect the presence of heavy shedders with pooled fecal culture. Environmental samples were tested as individual samples, not composites, taken in multiples of five from various sites on the farms including free stall alleyways, calving areas, dry cow areas, and around feeders and waterers (beef herds). The intent was not to detect an infected herd, but to provide information to management about areas of contamination and risk. In general the number of positive cultures was reflective of the number of positive animals in the herd. More work needs to be done to determine the best sampling strategies for environments to assist farmers in making management decisions.

Other groups within the NJWG that did not report at this meeting include:

Program Standards Group: Chair, Beth Patton

Budget & Strategic Planning Group: Co-Chairs, John Adams & Bob Ehlenfeldt

Laboratory Group: Chair, Bob Whitlock

Session on Producer Participation and International JD Programs

Wisconsin JD Program: Beth Patton indicated participation in a Johne’s disease program has been largely driven by producer incentives. As state funding for Johne’s disease testing became available, program participation rose. When federal funds became available, an additional testing credit was provided as an additional incentive. In the last year of the program, additional incentives were offered in the form of facilities improvement grants to drive additional participation.

There are a number of reasons producers may choose not to participate including: voluntary status of the program, fear of a blacklist, no current consumer consequence of possible Crohn’s link, it’s not mandated, already feel they control the disease, time required, testing component, money incentives may not be good enough (especially for larger herds), and the monetary returns are not immediately visible.

State has had herds that seem to only participate for the incentives and may not make the management changes recommended. Currently, the State is maintaining about 1100 herds on the program and looking for ways to increase that number.

Minnesota JD Program: Paul Anderson indicated program goals include commitments from district vets and private vets to the program, pays for some testing and risk assessments, and recognizes negative herds. Minnesota Herds in JD Program: 1,711 herds in the program. 538 herds in Status program (195 at Level 1, 211 at Level 2, 63 at Level 3 and 69 at Level 4). 11 Demonstration Herds. 510 of 538 (95%) status herds have requested there farms to be listed on the MN web site as status herds with the hope of increasing economic return. Reasons for success: Set clear program goals. Secure commitment from district veterinarians. Involve private practitioners. Pay for some testing and risk assessments. Recognize negative status herds. Minnesota model: We really believe that the National JD program works. We can make a difference for the cattle producer.

Ohio JD Program: Ned Cunningham indicated Ohio has utilized JD brochures to educate producers about the program, as well as sending letters to breed associations. Prior to 2005, they did not charge any laboratory testing fees. Their control program included quarantining the positives in the herd, positive cows were required to go to slaughter when sold, and the process was regulated by the field staff. JD is a regulatory disease in Ohio. Had to reduce incentive program due to budget cuts this year. Ohio has 90 status herds of which 50% are beef herds.

Pennsylvania JD Program: Ernest Hovingh reported that PA previously had a primarily test-based Johne's control program and has now moved to the risk assessment-management plan approach compatible with National Program Standards. Herds enrolled in previous programs are being transitioned to the new program. Herd management plans are developed by private, certified practitioners. ELISA testing is currently free and fecal culture is $2.00 for participating herds. The state is moving more and more to liquid culture and developing PCR technology. There has been some interest in using environmental sampling to screen herds, especially due to the quarantine of organism-ID positive animals in PA. (These positive animals are quarantined to the herd and must be sold to slaughter only - similar to Ohio's approach.) Generally uptake of the program has been very positive. A number of veterinarians have specifically commented on the value of the risk assessment. The monetary incentives offered to the veterinarian and producer also appear to have been significant at motivating participation.

New York JD Program: Sue Stehman indicated in NY, the Johne's program is implemented as one module of a larger health assurance program. Johne's continues to be a major incentive for joining the program with 96 % of program enrollees enrolled in the Johne's Module. Herds are provided with enrollment incentives including discounts in Johne's test fees, and vouchers to pay for the herd veterinarian's involvement during annual reviews and risk assessments. The annual state contributions toward the program range from $800,000 to 1.1 million dollars per year. The program was audited by the state comptroller’s office between 2000-2004. The audit focused on performance measures and maximizing herd enrollment.

Approximately, 12-15% of NY dairy herds are enrolled including a majority of the larger dairy herds in the state that represent approximately 40% of the total milk shipped in NY. Producer satisfaction was high; 90% of producers surveyed would recommend the program to other farmers, 76% recognized a benefit of improved herd health and 30% stated that the program increased their production and profitability. Of those farms surveyed that have left the program, 80% felt that the program met expectations and they would recommend it to others. In this same group, 30% of the respondents cited cost of the program as the most important negative perception. Costs cited included laboratory fees, fees for veterinary services, increased labor, capital improvements and equipment costs. 30% of the farms left the program because they were sold. Veterinarians surveyed cited time constraints and economic resources as important perceived enrollment barriers. Uncompleted and overdue annual reviews were noted as a deficit by the auditors. Federal funds have been used in NY to train additional certified veterinarians to assist with herd enrollment and annual reviews, provide farm grants to assist farms with facilities and equipment to support management improvements, test incentives and laboratory testing capacity. A national survey of producer attitudes toward adoption of Johne's best management practices and enrollment in the Johne's Program with funding from JDIP was also discussed.

Australia-JD Program: Peter Windsor reported that livestock is a $13 billion dollar industry in Australia, including $5b beef, $3b dairy and $3b sheep production, much of it exported, so industry is connected with disease management issues. Australia has 26 million cattle and 103 million sheep. Strain C mainly affects cattle and appears to more readily infects other species such as dairy goats, whereas Strain S affects sheep and appears less infectious to other species although it has infected fiber goats. The Gudair vaccine imported from Spain by Pfizer has been evaluated extensively in NSW sheep in controlled trials with lambs showing 90% reduction in mortalities and shedding of infectious organisms, although the few vaccinated animals that did develop OJD developed multibacillary disease and shed infectious doses. The vaccine is now being evaluated against BJD in two dairies in Victoria. The regulatory program for OJD did not work because movement controls were instituted after the disease had spread, plus there was a very negative stigma associated with having OJD on an infected farm so non-compliance was widespread. A new program commenced in 2004 which promoted vaccination, introduced a risk based trading system based on individual owner vendor declaration involving 'Assurance Based Credit points' for origin, testing and vaccinating, plus creation of the elite low disease-risk herd and flocks (mainly studs) in the Market Assurance program with status defined as Monitored Negative through regular testing. The current program based on risk management may need to be revisited if the food safety issue gains greater momentum in the future. Currently the aim is to allow infected properties to continue to produce, reduce the stigma of infection, and encourage vaccination (which is working well in sheep) plus other management procedures such as elimination of shedding stock (such as early culling of 'wasting' sheep) and calf segregation. The programs demonstrate the importance of producer education.

Victoria, Australia JD Program: Tristen Jubb indicated that bulk tank milk testing, looking for antigens in milk due to a super shedder, not changing milk filters enough, or due to lots of moderate shedders is being implemented in Victoria. The Victorian program will focus on the bulk tank milk detection of MAP. The system is in place to collect and test samples easily. If the bulk tank milk is positive then a farm investigation is done with the goal of reducing MAP shedding in the herd and thus in the milk. JD is regulated there because of the proposed Crohn’s link, and because of the amount of livestock being exported to other countries. The Victoria labs and most other Johne’s labs in Australia have switched to the Porquier ELISA test.

Japanese JD Program: Judy Stabel reported in 1997 that paratuberculosis was designated as a target disease for eradication. In 1998, the Japanese government started the examination of all cattle for paratuberculosis. Although voluntary the program is very active and highly enforced and by law there are requirements to define positive cows. All test positive animals are culled and do not enter into the food chain. The program offers producers up to 80% of the value of the animal for replacement costs. This is the most important and effective part of the Japanese eradication strategy. Currently, no other country is offering compensatory payments for culling of positive animals.

Canadian JD Program: RE (Ed) Empringham, project coordinator for the Canadian Animal Health Coalition is developing a voluntary Johne’s disease Control and Prevention Program for Canada by May 31, 2006. This project has received funding and in-kind support from industry, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada. The program components include: awareness and education; risk assessment and risk management; herd status certification; and research. The priority is to involve producers in awareness and education leading to participation in risk assessment and risk management through the application of best management practices. Strategic herd level testing will be used. The program will easy access, provide value and be non-punitive.

Producer Perspectives: Velmar Green reported one of the major concerns of farmers, is that they can’t afford to get rid of all the JD positive cows and not bring in replacement cows. As dairies increase cow numbers Johne’s testing seems more difficult to achieve and this is a major problem for the control of JD. Many Michigan producers participate in un-official Johne’s testing using the milk ELISA. Many producers see little value for Johne’s free or low-risk heifer replacements. Many Johne’s infected cows tend to cull themselves as the disease progresses with evidence of weight loss, diarrhea and lower milk production.

Dairy Farmers Association (DFA): Jim Carroll reported that DFA has listed JD as a priority disease and want increased funding, along with other things, and are opposed to labeling milk as “JD free”. This group and NJWG want to work more together to try to find a path forward, as farmers are most concerned with the economic impact of the disease. DFA includes 114 milk processing plants across the USA. Jim believes there are many opportunities for DFA’s participation in the JD program by including Johne’s disease information their monthly newsletter, young farmer meetings, monthly farm visits by field representatives, and adding Johne’s to the existing farm assessments (Five Star Quality Assurance Program).

A cooperative effort of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture and USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services,
in association with the National Johne's Working Group & United States Animal Health Association