Newsletter

Minnesota DHIA News

A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA DHIA Volume 7, Issue 3 March 2007

Dairy Records Processing Center Change Announced

The Minnesota DHIA Board of Directors has selected Dairy Records Management Systems (DRMS) of Raleigh, North Carolina to take over processing of DHIA records for herds affiliated with Minnesota DHIA. DRMS also has offices in Ames Iowa. DRMS started in 1957, and is the busiest DRPC in the U.S. with over 1.8 million cows processed monthly from over 14,000 member herds. DRMS is a noted innovator in hand held computer technology (Pocket Dairy) and has a well developed web site that is used by producers and consultants, as well as DHIA organizations. DRMS has pioneered research into new data that now flows into the USDA Genetic Evaluation Program, such as fertility and SCC.

During the last year, DRMS has processed 98% of the herds using their service the same day as the data was received. Their staff is experienced not just in computers, but also in Dairy and DHIA. They have handled data from Ftech and a Loop system for over 10 years. This means that the program that Field Reps on sample day will change very little, and the data handling system will remain the same. Consultants and producers will still access their data the same way from the same place.

DRMS is programming some Minnesota DHIA reports so that customers will have that familiar report. At the same time, DRMS has a host of reports that have been developed for their producers over time. Those reports will be available to Minnesota producers as we make the transition. Look for new reports and new options early this summer.

The change in DRPC came after the Board devoted much research into the abilities, performance, and people at each of the Dairy Records Processing providers in the U.S. Some herds have moved to DRMS already, and are receiving the DRMS reports. More herds will move as things progress. If you would like to have your herd processed at DRMS on your next test, please call us at 800.827.3442.

Minnesota DHIA turns 40

In 1967, Minnesota DHIA was formed into a non-profit corporation. Founding directors were Roger Marti, Harlan Siewert, Casimir Weller, Russell Wirt, George Lorenz, Dick Hinkle, Rudolph Bode, Henry Lenzen, Norbert Wiebe, and Hugh Benjamin. At the Minnesota DHIA Annual Meeting on March 22 at Cabela’s in Rogers, we will have a small celebration of our birthday, and honor the founders who are able to attend. DHIA was actually started in 1910 in Freeborn County, but was not incorporated statewide until 1967.

Outstanding In Their Field

Minnesota DHIA would like to recognize the following Field Representatives who are celebrating their anniversaries in March. Jo Pedersen from Murdock, celebrates 25 years of service this month. Jo currently provides DHIA services for herds in Kandiyohi, Pope and West Central Counties. Judy Rickbeil, from Browerville celebrates 15 years of service to Todd County members. Please take a moment to thank them for their dedication to our industry the next time they visit your operation.

February 2007 Milk Quality Top 100

	SCC	Cows		SCC	Cows
STEVEN ASHER	31	32	ANTHONY LEMMER	87	49
CIRCLE DRIVE HOLSTEINS	34	16	MARK TITERA	87	22
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	39	65	TERRY KOLSTAD	87	23
CHAD FELTMANN	41	11	DAVE SCHROEDER	87	32
HAPPKE HOLSTEIN FARM	46	69	TRAVIS-RICHARD SCHLOSSER	87	31
MARK KLEHR	55	55	BRUCE HANSON	88	30
GARY BECKMAN	56	76	DAVID SMITH	89	29
KEVIN & SHEILA THARALDSON	57	54	MILKY WAY DAIRY FARM	89	45
DANIEL HALLBERG	57	57	DEAN + ELIZABETH JOHNSON	89	69
BOB KUMMET	57	39	STEVE NIEDZWIECKI	90	37
DALE ERICKSON	58	42	DONALD + DARLENE MATROS	90	72
JOHN AND STACI SCHERBER	58	50	GILMAN HALBAKKEN	93	81
LARRY BRAEM	58	38	DEAN FRISLE	95	64
OAK GLEN JOHNS	59	32	LINDO FARMS	96	40
PETERM&LYNN HENDRICKSON	60	70	SELKE FARMS	96	158
LAYNE JANIKE	60	18	CRAIG AND SHARON DAHMS	96	31
JOHN WENNINGER	62	44	SAINTVILLE DAIRY	96	72
JERON NATHE	62	241	PAUL+ANN NIBBE	96	35
ROBERT + FAWN STAUB	64	30	DONALD YOUNG	97	52
TOM FUECHTMANN	64	92	EARL FELLING	98	72
JOHN ROBERS	65	20	Cargill ANC	98	76
NORBERT BROWN	67	54	LARRY LEXVOLD FAMILY	98	67
JON WINTER	67	32	JOEL & NICOLE GROSS	98	43
ROLLING W ACRES	68	26	LYLE AND WANDA HONEBRINK	98	96
POXLEITNER DAIRY	68	98	BLUE LAKE DAIRY	98	75
PAUL & MARY ZIMMERMAN	69	61	AIMEE FINLEY	98	104
SCHEFERS BROS	70	78	BRUCE RUNDHAUG	99	54
HABERER HILL DAIRY	71	20	VON WAHLDE DAIRY INC.	99	93
AB ACRES	72	41	SONDAG DAIRY	100	39
ART AND JANE STUMPF	73	48	LAKE SHORE FARM	100	10
MARK TESSMER	73	46	BRED & BUTTER DAIRY	100	62
DAVID SCHUUR	73	66	JEFF BLENKER	101	43
DARYL KOELLER	73	40	KEITH R JOHNSON	101	50
CRONK DAIRY	76	37	TOM & MARY GUNNINK	101	82
WILL TACHIBANA DAIRY	76	32	URBAN BROS	101	67
ROGER ALDINGER	77	61	DENNIS + BETTY JOHNSON	101	145
JAMES AND PAUL GREGORY	79	86	DEVOINE KRUSE	102	131
CURT + JACKIE BEKIUS	79	77	DAIRY SPA LLP	103	103
REUBEN AND JANICE STOMMES	79	70	MANUEL JERGER& SONS	104	129
BOB & TERRI KETCHUM	79	119	KUNST FARMS	104	73
GERALD+LISA BURG	81	35	MARVIN RADEMACHER	105	59
STACY & JULIE MILLER	81	77	DALE AUSTING	105	113
KALMES FARMS INC	81	110	DOUG SUHR	105	119
STANLEY MARTIN	83	34	MIKE HAGLUND	105	46
D & J DAIRY	83	64	DEAN RAUSCH	105	61
HAZEL-BUSH FARMS INC	83	47	GREG RINDSIG	106	47
KIRK BENGTSON	84	45	PRAHL DAIRY	107	30
MICHAEL AND KRIS BANSE	84	64	KB HILLSIDE DAIRY	108	43
CHUCK LEUTHOLD	84	66	CHUCK KLAPHAKE	108	94
DARAN AND CHRISTY BORTH	86	56	SCHUELER FARMS	108	241

About Johne's Disease

What is Johne's disease ?

Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, a slow-growing bacteria that invades the animal's small intestine causing a thickening of the intestinal wall. Johne's impairs the function of the digestive tract reducing nutrient utilization necessary for body weight gain, milk production, reproduction and eventually life itself.

How prevalent is Johne's disease?

Johne's disease has been found on 20-25 percent of U.S. dairy operations, affecting 5-10 percent of all U.S. dairy cows. Prevalence is assumed to be lower in the beef industry, however the beef industry has not been testing to the same extent as the dairy industry.

What are the affects of Johne's disease?

Johne's disease impacts the overall health and productivity of the animal. For dairy cattle, the loss of milk production is the most direct loss of income. However other economic factors such as premature culling, reduced slaughter value, treatment and cost of replacement animals also affect the economic viability of the dairy farm. In addition, researchers have shown a relationship between Johne's disease and reproductive performance, which leads to further economic losses.

How is Johne's disease spread?

Calves are the most susceptible to infection, especially during the first few weeks of life. The majority of Johne's infections in young animals are acquired by ingestion of M. paratuberculosis. This happens when calves consume infected manure or infected milk/colostrum. A third, but less common route of infection is by in-utero transmission.

How do you prevent the transmission of Johne's disease?

The National Johne's Working Group (NJWG) has identified specific management areas that should be addressed to reduce or prevent infections in a herd. Management practices to control Johne's disease are not complicated and are generally simple and inexpensive to implement. The NJWG recommendations include: manure management, colostrum and milk management, and identification and removal of infected animals and their offspring.

What testing options are available for Johne's disease?

There are nearly a dozen tests that can be performed to diagnose Johne's disease. Tests that detect antibodies to M. paratuberculosis, such as the blood or milk ELISA are most often recommended as screening tests to determine the herd-level prevalence of Johne's and identify high-risk animals. Tests that detect the M. paratuberculosis organism, like traditional fecal culture or the Rapid Fecal Test, are useful to confirm Johne's in high-risk animals and to identify the most problematic animals for transmission.

How often should Johne's disease testing be conducted?

Frequency depends on how aggressively producers want to reduce or eradicate Johne's disease. The Johne's disease picture in a herd will not change significantly from month to month and thus testing intervals should be closer to a year. Testing may even be discontinued in certain groups of animals that have been designated Johne's free with a high degree of confidence by testing negative over repeated testing intervals.

Is Johne's disease reportable?

Johne’s disease is a state mandated reportable disease, however it is not actionable, and the state regulatory agency is not out to remove the test-positive animals from the farm. Reporting assists the state in managing Johne’s by determining statewide disease incidence and location. Furthermore, through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reportable disease information can be requested, however information is released on a countywide basis only, and information pertaining to a specific operation is kept strictly confidential. This protects producers who take the initiative and manage for Johne’s and who are actively using smart management practices to protect their herd and the industry.

What is sensitivity and specificity?

Sensitivity refers to a tests ability to detect infected (positive) animals on a percentage basis. Since many diseased animals are in the early stages of Johne's, current tests are unable to detect these animals and thus, test sensitivity is approximately 50 percent.

Specificity refers to the tests ability to detect non-infected (negative) animals on a percentage basis. Specificity is high for Johne's disease tests (> 95 percent) and a single positive result in herds confirmed with Johne's disease is likely correct.

Does Johne's disease cause Crohn's disease?

More evidence is accumulating that Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is associated with Crohn's disease. However, a cause and effect has not been established. It is uncertain if Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Crohn's patients caused the disease or if Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is just able to survive in Crohn's patients because of compromised immune systems. Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is found throughout the environment, not just in milk and meat from infected animals

What does certified, accredited or licensed mean?

Licensed tests are monitored for their consistency in manufacturing and their performance against specified claims. On the other hand, certification or accreditation refers to the laboratory conducting tests and it acknowledges the lab's ability to correctly conduct specific tests. USDA accreditation/certification is only available for serum and fecal Johne's tests. The USDA has not yet devised a certification/accreditation program for the milk ELISA.

Johne’s Testing: Compare the Options

	Detection	Specificity (%)	Sensitivity (%)	Approximate Lab Cost	Result Turnaround
Fecal Culture	Detects organism	99.9 ± 0.1	60 ± 5	$25	12-16 weeks
Fecal PCR	Detects organism	99.5 ± 0.5	30 ± 5	$20	7 days
Serum ELISA	Detects antibodies	99.0 ± 1.0	30 ± 5	$6	7 days
Milk ELISA	Detects antibodies	99.0 ± 1.0	30 ± 5	$5	7 days

Specificity – ability to identify non-diseased animals as negative

Sensitivity – ability to identify diseased animals as positive

Benefits to Milk ELISA (compared to Serum/blood)

· Convenient – field rep already taking samples

· Cheap – lowest lab costs and no veterinarian costs

· As accurate as blood

· Quick Turnaround – results back within a week