Johne's disease (JD) presents a unique challenge for producers and veterinarians as the virus has a long incubation period, therefore clinical signs and shedding are typically only seen in adult cows. Calves and young stock are particularly susceptible to infection however, the presence of the disease is hard to detect in it’s early stage as the bacteria can remain ‘hidden’ in the gut with little or only intermittent shedding. The aim of Johne's disease management is to identify and remove animals likely to be shedding.

Here we provide a suggested Johne's screening protocol for vets to implement and work through with farmers.