Three years later their veterinarian encouraged them to take part in the Johne s program too. We look at it as an investment in the future. If you can have a specific pathogen-free herd when you sell your cows, it is going to make your herd worth more, believes Hal Adams. Pralles found that many breeders looked at Johne s testing as potentially harming their merchandising activity, rather than looking at it as a way in enhance their program. In fact, one herd owner was advised by a state veterinarian not to test his herd if he was planning on selling it because if any positives were found, it could hurt the herd s salability.
People still have their heads in the sand.
People that merchandise often say that testing is impractical, but you only know how devastating this disease can be after you are infected, says Dr. Collins. It is kind of like breast cancer in women or prostrate cancer in men. It is better for herd owners to know it is there early and do something about it than to do nothing until it is too late. I think Johne s testing will be very important for seedstock producers in the future. Even though the tests aren t always accurate at this point, it is important to do the testing to have an idea where we are at, says Scott Pralle.