Johne’s Test Now Available on DHIA Milk Samples

For the past several months, the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the DHIA Labs in Sauk Centre and Zumbrota have been gearing up to offer the Milk ELISA Johne’s tests to Minnesota dairy producers.  The test is now available.  It utilizes the same DHIA milk sample collected for butterfat, protein, and SCC.  Extensive research and testing show the milk test to be very comparable to the serum ELISA Johne’s test that has been a standard test for many years.  ELISA tests are looking for the antibodies the cow creates to fight a specific disease, not the disease itself.  Once sampled, the antibodies do not grow, research shows the small amount of milk that is left in a flask from one cow to another does not impact the result for a cow.

 

The obvious advantages of the milk test include that sampling is easy (and inexpensive) compared to taking blood samples, results will be fast, and that the data will be integrated into the DHIA database and reporting system for your herd.  We will provide the numerical result and positive or negative status.  Please see the following joint release for more information.  To order the test on selected cows or the whole herd, simply talk to your DHIA Field Rep on your next sample day.

 

USDA funding for Johne’s sample collection (serum or feces)  is no longer available according to the Board of Animal Health, so producers will now need to pay for collection of those samples.

 

We urge producers to work with your Veterinarian on using Johne’s test results, and contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health for more information about their Johne’s control assessment tools and programs. 

 

In compliance with the regulation that Johne’s is a reportable disease, we will also report results to the Board of Animal Health.  The Board of Animal Health and University of Minnesota will use the results for statistical and research purposes only.  Results will not appear anywhere in the public record, and no follow up on herds will be pursued as a result of the Milk ELISA Johne’s test.  We will submit the data under your herd’s Premises ID that you have probably received from the Board of Animal Health as a part of the developing National Animal Identification System that is designed to track animal diseases in the event of an Animal Health Emergency.  Register your Premises today by calling the Board of Animal Health at 651.201.6816 or go to www.bah.state.mn.us.  You will need your Premises ID number to participate in the Milk ELISA Johne’s Test.

 

Producers who have vaccinated against Johne’s should not use the ELISA tests.

 

 

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December Milk Quality Top 100

		SCC	Cows				SCC	Cows
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	EDENVALLEY	34	63		CURTIS,MAREN+JEREMY HOLST	LAKECITY	82	94
STEVEN ASHER	PINECITY	34	30		WALLY W WIESE	VERNDALE	82	29
PRAHL DAIRY	SUNBURG	35	30		SCHERPING FARM	FREEPORT	83	90
DANIEL HALLBERG	KANDIYOHI	37	59		KIMM'S DAIRY	PELICAN RAPIDS	83	82
HAPPKE HOLSTEIN FARM	PIERZ	45	66		TONY STAEBLER	MORRIS	83	64
MARK KLEHR	BELLE PLAINE	48	52		WAYNE AND WADE ATHEY	GRACEVILLE	83	42
GERALD+LISA BURG	FREEPORT	49	38		ROBERT SLATER	MAHTOWA	85	30
JERON NATHE	MELROSE	52	236		DAVID SMITH	DENT	85	28
MORRIS + JEFF CHAMBERLAIN	HASTINGS	52	16		MICHELS BROTHERS	PELICAN RAPIDS	86	25
PHILIP & SHEREEN HAUGE	SUNBURG	54	50		MARK TESSMER	ROGERS	87	44
D & J  DAIRY	PAYNESVILLE	55	63		DAVID & KAREN HAUGEN	DALLAS	87	29
KALMES FARMS INC	ROLLINGSTONE	56	108		JIM KULINSKI	LESTER PRAIRIE	88	50
ROGER DITTBERNER	PARKERS PRAIRIE	56	39		EVERETT AND PAT ROLFING	WINONA	88	42
TIM & SUE HOESE	GLENCOE	56	20		DEVOINE KRUSE	CALEDONIA	89	133
SCHEFERS BROS	PAYNESVILLE	57	78		JAMES AND PAUL GREGORY	BELGRADE	89	94
SUNKREST DAIRY	CUSHING	57	28		LARRY AND SHARON WISTE	SPRING GROVE	91	28
STANLEYMARTIN	BROWERVILLE	58	34		SELKE FARMS	DAKOTA	92	161
ART AND JANE STUMPF	PIERZ	60	50		RICHARD LAMBRECHT	BELLE PLAINE	92	101
KEVIN ANDERSON	BATTLELAKE	60	46		RON KEMPER	WAUBUN	92	27
DON WITTE-COREY GROSHENS	ATWATER	61	68		SCOTT HIPPEN	BROOK PARK	93	52
LARRY BRAEM	SACRED HEART	62	36		ADAMSCREST	COSMOS	93	25
CIRCLE DRIVE HOLSTEINS	HUTCHINSON	63	17		BOB AND BARB PETIT	PLAINVIEW	94	57
HABERER HILL DAIRY	HENNING	65	20		KEITH ROOT	NEW RICHLAND	94	37
HIESERICH FARM	BELGRADE	66	88		TRIPLE H DAIRY	ADAMS	95	141
MILKY WAY DAIRY FARM	HAYWARD	66	43		POXLEITNER DAIRY	KELLIHER	95	98
JOHN WENNINGER	LAFAYETTE	66	40		CLETUS MILLER	ALBANY	95	29
CRONK DAIRY	HENNING	66	36		DEAN FRISLE	PRAIRIE FARM	96	70
DAVID SCHUUR	SAUK CENTRE	67	62		AIMEE FINLEY	ST. CHARLES	97	96
DON & CHERRYL KJOS	RUSHFORD	68	178		LESTER AND GARY RYDEEN	MARINE ST CROIX	97	49
TOM FUECHTMANN	MELROSE	68	95		FOUR WAY FARM INC	ADAMS	98	216
RON AMY SHAWN BEMBOOM	GILMAN	69	95		SCOTT FELDHACKER	HILLSDALE	98	59
AL + MARK SCHMITT	RICE	70	95		SCHUFT DAIRY	ARLINGTON	98	47
GLEN CHRISTEN	SAUK CENTRE	70	43		JOHN ROBERS	CLEARLAKE	98	20
DANIEL SCHULTZ	CENTERCITY	71	43		DOUG SUHR	KASSON	99	126
KEITH + KENNETH BOESE  1	MORRISTOWN	71	8		LYLE AND WANDA HONEBRINK	MAYER	99	95
GILMAN HALBAKKEN	ST CHARLES	72	82		GARY HOFFMAN	CHATFIELD	99	69
RONALD AND SUSAN JOHNSON	LINDSTROM	72	63		TLK FARMS	HEWITT	99	62
PETER SKAJ	ST  JOSEPH	73	38		AB ACRES	SHELLLAKE	99	39
JAMES M TESSMER	LORETTO	75	46		BRUCE HANSON	RICELAKE	99	32
DALE ERICKSON	BARRETT	75	37		STEVE H REMIGER	WOODLAKE	101	101
STEVEN KUEHN	NEW ULM	75	32		BIRCH POINT FARMS PESHON	MINNESKA	102	220
JOHN+MARY RADEMACHER	MELROSE	76	97		SUNSHINE DAIRY LLP	ARLINGTON	102	96
CURT + JACKIE BEKIUS	MILACA	76	75		VON WAHLDE DAIRY	MELROSE	102	92
MICHAEL AND KRIS BANSE	EITZEN	76	66		JERRY + BEV POHLMANN	GREY EAGLE	103	70
STEVE + DEB HEUER	LITCHFIELD	76	35		DENNIS BOYENGA	ELLSWORTH	105	37
PETER & MARK HENDRICKSON	MENAHGA	77	71		MARVIN NELDNER	LEWISTON	105	26
JEFF MILLER	FOLEY	78	60		ADAM DANIELS	LANESBORO	105	17
NORTH VISTA HOLSTEINS	DALLAS	79	33		WAYNE + DONNA LEXVOLD	KENYON	106	80
DUANE CAROL DENNIS HAIBY	PELICAN RAPIDS	81	74		DARREL + LISA MAUS	FREEPORT	106	68
MARK AND GLEN HOFFMANN	LAFAYETTE	81	35		TIM AHO DAIRY	FRAZEE	107	76
					LARRY & CAROL MOEN	CAMERON	107	74

 

 

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Congratulations:  Somatic Cell Count Drop Continues

 

The average Somatic Cell Count for December was 317,766, which ranks as the second lowest on record.  If your herd average SCC was 284,000, there were as many herds above you as below (median SCC).  That is great news for the dairy industry and DHIA.  Thanks to all you producers who make the effort to produce a high quality product.

  

Field Reps Reach Milestones

In the month of January, two of our Field Reps are celebrating milestone anniversaries.  Robert Lange from Utica, is celebrating 25 years of service with Minnesota DHIA.  He is currently a Field Rep in Winona County.  Also, Doug Bruender from Waldorf is celebrating 20 years of service.  Doug serves as a Field Rep in Blue Earth and Waseca Counties.  Please pass on your congratulations to these hardworking and dedicated Field Reps the next time they visit your dairy operation.

 

 

 

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Date:          November 16, 2006

 

To:              Minnesota Dairy Producers

 

From:                   Minnesota Board of Animal Health

MinnesotaDairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA)

Universityof MinnesotaVeterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

 

     Milk ELISA Test for Johne’s Disease Announced

 

A test for the diagnosis of  Johne’s Disease is now available to Minnesota dairy producers.  It is an ELISA test that detects antibodies in milk against the organism that causes Johne’s Disease, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.  The test kit to be used will be ParaCheck® by Prionics (formerly CSL/Biocor). 

 

Milk ELISA testing will be conducted by the Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) under the supervision of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.  Tests will cost $5.00 per sample and will be charged directly to the producer.

 

The milk ELISA test can be used by all producers, but it is not yet approved for use in the National Johne’s Disease test negative herd program.  At this time, milk ELISA tests will not be subsidized by state or federal funds.  The serum ELISA test, fecal PCR and fecal cultures will continue to be available through the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

 

As with all Johne’s Disease tests, the milk ELISA test is most effective in detection of infected cows over 36 months of age that are shedding moderate to high levels of the organism.  For best results, cows may be sampled any time during lactation except for the first seven days.

 

Results will be reported as a numerical value indicating the level of antibodies in the sample.  Numeric values for the Prionics milk ELISA test are different than values reported for the IDEXX serum ELISA.  Numeric values reported for the two tests compare as follows:

 

	IDEXX serum ELISA (Sample/Positive Ratio)	Prionics milk ELISA (Optical Density Difference)
Negative test result	< 0.25	< 0.10
Positive test result	> 0.25	> 0.10
Positive test result – moderate	> 0.40	> 0.25
Positive test result - high	> 1.00	> 0.60

 

 

Milk ELISA tests for Johne’s Disease will be conducted upon producer request using the normal  milk samples collected by DHIA.  Results from the tests will become a part of the producer’s DHIA records and will be reported to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Board of Animal Health

 

For more information, contact the Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association at 1-800-827-3442 or the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-201-6824.