Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: bovine
- Animal Products: dairy
Practices
- Animal Production: animal protection and health
Proposal abstract:
Johne’s (pronounced “YOH neez”) disease is an infectious disease that has a negative economic impact on dairy herds. In this study we will partner with multiple farms to look at their decision-making process around culling early lactation animals as a means to reduce disease spread. This study will determine whether partner farms would be willing to use early lactation culling as a management strategy to control Johne’s disease within their herd. In order to support the decision-making processes of partner farms, we will provide selective diagnostic testing and partial budgets. We will determine how this information is used to support the early lactation culling decisions. Results from this study will be shared with other dairy producers through producer meetings in an effort to recruit additional farms to adopt this approach to Johne’s disease management on their own dairies. In order to help additional farms implement these management strategies, we will provide a framework to support their decision making process.
Project objectives from proposal:
- This project seeks to determine whether partner farms would be willing to use early lactation culling as a management strategy to control Johne’s disease within their herd. We will use a participatory approach to understand the motivations behind decision making in this context.
- This project seeks to understand the role of providing certain information to support the early lactation culling decisions of partner farms. We will provide testing and a partial budget to support decision making.
- This project seeks to share knowledge with other dairy producers and recruit them to adopt this approach to Johne’s disease management on their own farms. In order to help additional farms implement these management strategies, we will provide a framework to support their decision making.