Farm owners and managers across the UK are being asked for their help with student research into a multi-million-pound problem facing the cattle industry – Johne’s disease.
A short questionnaire examines farmers’ views on Johne’s disease and some of the management practices that are used to try to halt its spread in the UK.
Veterinary Bioscience student Rhian Masson said: “My questionnaire seeks to find out whether demographics influence Johne’s prevalence across the UK and farmers’ attitudes towards Johne’s disease more widely.
“I am looking to identify weaknesses in the rationale behind unsuccessful disease control efforts and why herd size may have an effect.”
What is Johne’s disease?
Johne’s disease is a chronic and contagious bacterial disease which has no known treatment. Therefore, good on-farm management and sanitation practices are key to preventing its spread.
A report by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in 2013 found that the disease costs the UK cattle industry £13m annually.
The disease has numerous impacts, such as loss of productivity, higher climate impact – as animals are less efficient – and decreases in welfare for the sick animals.
The disease progressively damages the intestines of affected animals. In cattle, this results in profuse and persistent diarrhoea, severe weight loss, loss of condition and infertility. Affected animals eventually and inevitably die.
In dairy herds, the presence of Johne’s disease will significantly reduce milk yields well before other signs of the disease can be found.
The consequences of those effects result in significant economic losses to farmers.
Farmers’ opinions are crucial to advance the research
“We are looking to discover if farmers need more support in tackling Johne’s disease, whether that is financial or educational,” Masson explained.
“For instance, if a farm has perhaps not employed all the potential biosecurity measures to reduce the disease on a farm – why?”
She added: “Smaller farms are hit harder by these losses, and we may lose more small family-run farms because of Johne’s disease, leading to economic loss and the reduced mental wellbeing of farmers.
“My hope is to improve the health, welfare, and efficiency, and therefore, the climate impact of dairy cattle across the UK and support farmers while doing so.”
Senior Lecturer Dr Tharangani Herath said that understanding how farmer practices and attitudes impact Johne’s disease was crucial.
“Identifying barriers can improve awareness, enhance diagnostics, and develop targeted biosecurity strategies,” Herath said.
The short survey should be completed by dairy farm owners or managers over the age of 18 before 28 February.
