Updated Johne's Disease Information Available

A newly released brochure, Johne's Disease Q & A for Sheep Owners, is now available online. The booklet, underwritten by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Veterinary Service, was developed by the National Johne's Education Initiative.

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 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 animals that have a lower risk of transmitting Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, the bacteria known to cause Johne's disease.

To learn more about Johne's disease or to read the revised uniform program standards, go to www.johnesdisease.org. The sheep specific booklet is available at www.sheepusa.org/user_files/file_764.pdf.