Dairy and beef producers and bovine veterinarians are encouraged to check out the revised Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program developed by USDA in conjunction with the U.S. Animal Health Association that went into effect Sept 1.

The updated Control Program is less cumbersome, has three levels of producer involvement and has an easier-to-understand-and-follow system for classifying herds that have a lower risk of transmitting Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), the bacteria known to cause Johne’s disease.

“All producers participating in the revised Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program will start with the education component, then they can choose whether to proceed to the management component that incorporates best management practices or move on to the classification component that incorporates best management strategies and testing,” says Dr. Michael Carter, National Johne’s Disease Control Program Coordinator, National Center for Animal Health Programs, USDA-APHIS-VS.