Johne’s disease causes profuse, watery diarrhea and weight loss in cattle. Unfortunately, there is not a treatment for Johne’s and cattle will continue to get worse with time. Johne’s is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP).
Infected cattle shed the bacteria in feces, colostrum, and milk. Infection primarily occurs in young calves when they consume feed, water, milk, colostrum, or suckle from teats contaminated with MAP.
Biosecurity is the best way to prevent Johne’s disease from impacting your operation. Embryo transfer recipient cows of unknown history and dairy cows present increased risks for beef cow-calf operations.
