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 test has been available for several years through Antel Bio in Lansing Michigan, and is also now available in DHIAs across Canada, Texas, Arizona, and Wisconsin.  The Milk ELISA test is the second of perhaps many ELISA tests that will be available for use on the regular DHIA milk samples.  MN DHIA previously offered Staph. aureus ELISA testing using the DHIA milk samples.

 

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.

 

We will send results to your Vet if you would like us to.  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.

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

 

New Member Drive

Minnesota DHIA is seeking new members this fall.  There are special incentives for Field Reps, and discounts for new members.  Pass along any prospect names you may have to your Field Rep on the next sample day, or call them in to us at 800.827.3442.   We encourage all Field Reps to offer 12 tests per year to all customers, and we (and most consultants that visit dairies) recommend herds test every month.

 

Field Reps Reach Milestones

In the month of December, two of our Field Reps are celebrating milestone anniversaries.  Randy Rasmussen from Thief River Falls is celebrating 30 years of service with Minnesota DHIA. He services herds from Red Lake, Pennington, and Northwest Counties.  Bryan Whitney, from Kenyon, is celebrating his 20^th year.  Bryan services herds from Dodge, Goodhue, Steele and Rice Counties.  Please pass on your congratulations to these hardworking and dedicated Field Reps the next time they visit your dairy.

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November Milk Quality Top 100

		SCC				SCC
DAVID SMITH	DENT	43		ROBERT + FAWN STAUB	MAZEPPA	87
GERALD+LISA BURG	FREEPORT	48		MIKE + ROSIE ZEIG	SLEEPY EYE	87
DAVID SCHUUR	SAUK CENTRE	50		ZUMBRO VIEW FARMS LLC	ZUMBROTA	87
PINE LANE DAIRY	GLENWOODCITY	51		ROGER + WENDY SORENSON	EAGLE BEND	88
DANIEL HALLBERG	KANDIYOHI	51		BOB KUMMET	PIERZ	91
PETER & MARK HENDRICKSON	MENAHGA	53		WILL TACHIBANA DAIRY	UNDERWOOD	94
KEVIN & SHEILA THARALDSON	GOODRIDGE	54		AUSMUS FARM	HINCKLEY	94
OAK GLEN JOHNS	EAGLE BEND	55		DENNIS BOYENGA	ELLSWORTH	95
DON WITTE-COREY GROSHENS	ATWATER	55		DARAN AND CHRISTY BORTH	MENAHGA	95
KEVIN ANDERSON	BATTLELAKE	60		HAPPKE HOLSTEIN FARM	PIERZ	95
JERON NATHE	MELROSE	63		JEFF & TINA VINKEMEIER	NORWOOD	95
SIBERT FARMS	HEWITT	64		JOPPS CENTURY FARMS	MAYER	95
JON WINTER	HOFFMAN	66		RUIS-ING SUN DAIRY	MILACA	96
LARRY & CAROL MOEN	CAMERON	66		DAVID BUCK	DENNISON	96
ROBERT SLATER	MAHTOWA	67		ART AND JANE STUMPF	PIERZ	97
F  LYLE SONDAG	APPLETON	67		D & J  DAIRY	PAYNESVILLE	97
MARK KLEHR	BELLE PLAINE	68		SARAH L POLYOCK	CHETEK	97
JAMES AND PAUL GREGORY	BELGRADE	68		JIM KULINSKI	LESTER PRAIRIE	98
BOB & TERRI KETCHUM	UTICA	68		BRUCE AND WENDY HILKE	ALTURA	98
PETER SKAJ	ST  JOSEPH	69		ADAM DANIELS	LANESBORO	99
RALPH SWIGGUM	UTICA	69		EARL FELLING	ALBANY	99
CIRCLE DRIVE HOLSTEINS	HUTCHINSON	70		GLEN CHRISTEN	SAUK CENTRE	100
ROLLING W ACRES	CHETEK	70		DAVID JONES	BELLE PLAINE	100
BASHAW LAKE HOLSTIENS	SHELLLAKE	70		KEVIN & DELORES CARLSON	WANNASKA	100
MAYNARD SCHUMACHER	PLAINVIEW	71		TIMOTHY-MAYLA KLEMEK	HENNING	101
MARK TESSMER	ROGERS	72		DON C MEECH	SEBEKA	101
NORBERT BROWN	GREY EAGLE	72		BRUCE AND JODI HEIM	LEWISTON	102
GARY BECKMAN	PENNOCK	74		HOLLERMANN DAIRY	BURTRUM	102
RICHARD SCHNOBRICH	NEW ULM	75		AL LISSON	STAPLES	104
MORRIS + JEFF CHAMBERLAIN	HASTINGS	76		HARTHUN DAIRY	DENT	104
HABERER HILL DAIRY	HENNING	76		THOMAS & RITA WOLBECK	WAUBUN	104
JAMES M TESSMER	LORETTO	76		STEVE MARTIN	FINLAYSON	105
RONALD HARFF	WATKINS	78		STONY CREEK DAIRY	BELGRADE	105
JOHN WENNINGER	LAFAYETTE	78		GARY L LEGARE	LAFAYETTE	105
BRUCE AND CHERYL MOHN	LAKEVILLE	78		HIESERICH FARM	BELGRADE	106
SELKE FARMS	DAKOTA	78		TOM AND TAMMY MURSU	NEW YORKMILLS	107
TONY STAEBLER	MORRIS	79		DENNIS GRANSEE	SANBORN	107
JERRY + BEV POHLMANN	GREY EAGLE	79		PRAHL DAIRY	SUNBURG	108
CLETUS MILLER	ALBANY	81		ROGER HEMMESCH	PAYNESVILLE	108
MITCH CLOW	BARRETT	83		STEVE NIEDZWIECKI	LONG PRAIRIE	109
RANDY GRABAU	SPRINGVALLEY	83		LARRY AND SHARON WISTE	SPRING GROVE	110
WAYNE AND WADE ATHEY	GRACEVILLE	83		JIM KLAPHAKE	SAUK CENTRE	110
KEN & AARON VOGT	SAUK CENTRE	84		GILMAN HALBAKKEN	ST CHARLES	110
DARREL + LISA MAUS	FREEPORT	85		DAVID POPOWSKI	IVANHOE	110
LARRY BRAEM	SACRED HEART	86		PINE OAKS DAIRY	COLFAX	111
JOHN AND STACI SCHERBER	ROGERS	86		AIMEE FINLEY	ST. CHARLES	111
SCOTT HIPPEN	BROOK PARK	86		WILFERD STREHLER	HAMEL	111
POXLEITNER DAIRY	KELLIHER	86		PHILIP & SHEREEN HAUGE	SUNBURG	112
DAILY BREAD DAIRY FARM	MADISON	86		KIDMAN DAIRY	BALATON	112
HELEN NOWASKEY	CUMBERLAND	87		DENNIS + BETTY JOHNSON	WINONA	112
JIM + GERI WIEBUSCH	LAKECITY	87

 

Premise Registration Update

The Board of Animal Health data shows reports that over 60% of DHIA herds have registered your premises. Thank you for your leadership.  The Board has spent a lot of time and miles trying to trace TB in the last couple of years, and that job would have been greatly simplified with Premise Registration and good records on the farms.  It would be wise for you and the industry to obtain your Premises ID today if you do not already have one.  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.

 

 

Records Processing Update

 

There are now more than a dozen MN DHIA herds that are having your data processed at a different Dairy Records Processing Center (DRPC) than our standard offering of Agritech Analytics of Visalia California.  Some of you have changed because of dissatisfaction with Agritech.  Our Directors are visiting with and processing at other DRPCs as well as at ATA so that we can make comparisons and see what else is available.  Meanwhile, ATA has hired a new General Manager and is working very hard at correcting problems.  They expect to regain full certification in the next couple of months.  If you have questions on your reports, or want to talk about options, please call us at 800.827.3442, extension 14 or 35, or press 0 and ask for Bruce.

 

Rolling Herd Averages and Cow Records Corrected

 

As we previously reported, from early January 2006 through June 2006, ATA implemented its new data processing system and was not using AP factors for Fat, affecting 2,351 herds.  ATA was asked to reprocess all affected herds and has been doing so for the past few weeks to correct this error. All affected herds will have all affected test days for that period corrected. 

 

Changes in Herd Average will appear on the next Herd Summary Report.  Although most herds will see little or no change on the Rolling Herd Average, we did want correct information for the herd and for individual cow records. All affected records will be resubmitted to USDA for correction as well.

 

Corrected cow pages will be sent out on all affected cows in herds with the cow page option as soon as ATA completes the corrections.

 

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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.

 

 

Minnesota Board of Animal Health Safeguarding Animal Health

www.bah.state.mn.us

LivesTALK

Animal Health Headlines in Minnesota

December 2006

As the year winds down and you start to think about closing out the year’s books, preparing tax documents, and gathering receipts – we’ve got some good news. Minnesota cattle owners who paid for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing during 2006 can offset the costs of those tests with a new tax credit offered this year.

The bovine TB testing credit is a tax refund available to individuals, trusts, partnerships and corporations. Legislation passed earlier this year allows cattle owners to claim a credit against their taxes for an amount equal to one half of the expenses incurred to conduct TB testing. The eligible testing includes producer funded Caudal-Fold Tuberculin (CFT) tests performed by an accredited veterinarian certified to conduct bovine TB testing in Minnesota.

The credit is available to cattle owners testing just one animal or an entire herd, and there are no limits on how much can be claimed. The testing and resulting expenses must be incurred before December 31, 2006 to be claimed on 2006 tax returns.

Since bovine TB was detected in northwestern Minnesota, more than 132,000 bovine TB tests have been completed in Minnesota. We know that testing is not cheap; however, it is necessary if we are to preserve Minnesota’s strong cattle industry and return the state to TB-free status.

This testing credit allows cattle producers some financial relief. If you’ve had to test cattle before an out-of-state shipment, exhibition, or sale, this credit will allow you to recoup half the costs. Until we can regain our TB-free status, this credit should help producers maintain interstate business.

The credit applies to the following expenses incurred to conduct qualified tests:

• Veterinarian fees, including call charges and injection costs, directly paid by the herd owner.
• Labor expenses that the cattle owner would not have otherwise incurred, for services which are necessary to present a cattle herd for testing.
• Expenses related to the rental of equipment by the bovine owner, which is necessary for injecting and reading bovine TB tests and which would not have been incurred if the test had not been administered.

Expense paid by any government agency or expenses paid by the cattle owner but reimbursed by a government agency do not qualify for the credit.

For more information about the tax credit, visit www.taxes.state.mn.us. For information on bovine TB testing and Minnesota’s quest to regain TB-free status, visit www.bah.state.mn.us. We thank you for your cooperation in helping Minnesota regain its TB-Free status.

Dr. Bill Hartmann State Veterinarian

625 North Robert Street• St. Paul, MN • 651-296-2942 • 651-296-7417 FAX • 1-800- 627-3529 TTY

In accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, an alternative form of communication is available upon request.