Johne’s disease, an illness common to dairy cows, has increasingly been identified as a concern for beef producers. SDSU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Russ Daly says this bacterial infection of the intestinal tract requires producers pay attention to manure exposure to aid in control. He says it’s a tough disease to detect because signs may not show up until the animal is 3 or 4 years old.
He says manure is the main source of transmission of the bacteria to uninfected cattle.
Daly says Johne’s is a difficult herd health issue because there’s no vaccine to prevent is and no cure. He says it’s important to keep sick animals away from young calves and also work with your local vet to come up with testing plans.
Daly says while culling the animal can be helpful, it’s not the total answer because of the long incubation period involved.
