Herdwise history report highlights current disease status 

                             

Johne's disease test results, past and present, recorded through the Herdwise surveillance service are now available through NMR's Herd Companion website. The site provides a graphical representation of the number of ‘red', ‘amber' and ‘green' cows within the herd and the trends from one group to another.

"This is a powerful report for producers and vets and makes maximum use of the data in modifying a control regime and minimising transmission of the disease," says Herdwise manager Steve West. "Monitoring these results demonstrates the effectiveness of a Johne's control programme - ideally showing an increase in the proportion of green cows."

Individual cows can be monitored immediately and disease profiles analysed from a table within the report that details historic data for individual cows.

The Herdwise ‘historic' table also identifies if and when the cow has left the herd and her highest Johne's result on record along with the number of days since her first high result was reported. "These latest additions allow farmers to see exactly which cows are presenting least risk to the herd and therefore offer the safest colostrums and milk for feeding calves. It can also be of benefit for prioritising cows to breed replacements from," adds Mr West.

"However, it is important to remember that evidence of the effectiveness of calf management will not be evident until respective calves enter the milking herd. It is therefore important to persevere with changes in management to ensure a true prevalence reduction."

Herdwise is now used by more than 700 herds. One NMR milk recording sample from each cow is tested for Johne's quarterly.

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