Johne’s Risk Assessment

Now available on iTunes App Store.

The Johne’s Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) is a nationally standardized system in the U.S. This app converts that same RAMP into a user friendly iPad app allowing easy, paperless, herd scoring and generation of a herd management plan. RAMP training is a component of the Johne’s Certified Veterinarian program available at: https://ce.vetmed.wisc.edu/Johnes_Disease

The purpose of the Johne’s Risk Assessor app is to assist veterinarians and their clients with the implementation of a standard Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP). The goal is to reduce or eliminate risks for the introduction and/or spread of Johne’s disease. Implementation of management practices aimed at Johne’s disease control will increase herd biosecurity and reduce the risk for transmission of other fecal-oral transmitted pathogens.

The app consists of seven tabbed views. These are ordered in a progressive manner.

History = Herd information and history
Calf = Calving to pre-wean
Heifer = Post-wean to bred Heifer
Adult/Replacement = Adults and replacements purchases
Summary = Herd score distribution based on the six areas
Recommendations = Recommendations for the herd based on the assessment
PDF viewer = Easily viewed pdf of the risk assessment

Herd assessment should proceed through the tabbed views starting with the History tab and stepping sequentially to the right. The stepwise process of performing the assessment will disclose a number of management choices that may be utilized to effectively reduce identified risks. The final content of the plan is ultimately the decision of the owner and the veterinarian and should support the owner’s goals, reduce the impact of Johne’s and other diseases, and include a testing scheme. The plan should be mindful of all health and management priorities and blend with ongoing biosecurity efforts.

Assessors should consider all factors in each management area. Scoring risks is a subjective process. The veterinarian and producer should score the risk level for each factor independently, then discuss and agree on the final score value. By doing so, priorities may be established for the management plan. The result will be a management plan that is effective and realistic to implement.

At the top of the view there is a “Save pdf” button. This will allow for the preservation of the view for final presentation. The pdf is appended after each subsequent view is added. A button on the Recommendations view (Email pdf) will allow for transfer of the final risk assessment from the app to anyone needing a copy via email.

The herd information and history tab view will assist in collecting pertinent information about the herd’s current health status and the owner’s concerns. The information gathered will enhance the veterinarian’s understanding of the operation, important when creating the herd plan. This is background information and is vital when considering the cattle inventory and resources available for biosecurity practices.

The information gathered on this page is designed to give the veterinarian a basic understanding of what has been previously implemented with respect to Johne’s control. Entering the Veterinarian Name, Clinic Name and Clinic Address will store this information in the app’s preference section, reducing the need to enter this information again. Use the app’s settings to change these values in the future.

Indicate the herd’s Johne’s status?
If the herd at a specified level in the U.S. Johne’s Disease Program, indicate the level.
Does the herd vaccinate for Johne’s?
Are there animals other than cattle on site?
Enter the current adult cattle inventory?
Enter the number of clinical Johne’s cases seen in the past year
Enter the total number of animals removed from the herd in the past year.
Has a Risk Assessment / Management Plan (RAMP) been done in the past?

Data may be saved in pdf format by touching “Save pdf” button at the top of the view. All of the Herd History data may be cleared by touching the “Clear data” button. All of the data entered on all tabs may be cleared by touching the “Clear all data” button. Navigate to the next Calf tab view by touching “Calf” at the bottom of the page.

Because calves are the most susceptible to infection, maximum scores are higher for the risk factors in this area; 10 is the maximum score for each of the 8 risk factors to score. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high. The risk factors for the maternity or calving area basically assess the potential of a new born to ingest manure containing Mycobacterium avium ss paratuberculosis (MAP). Considerations include ground and pen surfaces, contaminated udders and teats, suckling colostrum from an infected cow or manure contamination on calf’s body surfaces.

Calving Area Risks

Risk Factors	Scoring guidelines
Is the area used for more than one calving cow at a time?	Lowest risk = single pen use (0-1). Moderate risk = general maternity area with moderate cow concentration (4-6). Highest risk = very crowded maternity area used by all cows (8-10).
Does manure build-up in the calving area posing a risk for calf ingestion?	Lowest risk = area always clean and dry (0-1). Moderate risk = area has little manure visible to area more manure-free than manure contaminated (4-6). Highest risk = area is more manure contaminated than manure-free to extensive manure contamination (8-10).
Are sick cows kept in the calving area?	Lowest risk = almost never (0-1). Moderate risk = hospital pen adjacent to maternity area (4-6). Highest risk = sick cows are in maternity area (8-10).
Are high risk JD clinical and suspects in calving area?	Lowest risk = almost never (0-1). Moderate risk = low risk suspects in maternity area (4-6). Highest risk = high risk I JD clinicals are in maternity area (8-10).
Are calving cow’s udders soiled with manure?	Lowest risk = 90% of udders are clipped, clean and dry (0-1). Moderate risk = moderate amount of manure on udders of 20% – 40% of cows (4-6). Highest risk = udders are manure covered on a majority of cows (8-10).
Are calves born in other areas that hold cows, i.e., outside of calving area?	Lowest risk = almost never occurs (0-1). Moderate risk = occurs 15% to 25% of all calvings (4-6). Highest risk = occurs more than 40% of the time (8-10).
Do calves stay with their dams for >60 minutes?	Lowest risk = almost never (0-1). Moderate risk = most calves stay 1-4 hrs (4-6). Highest risk = most calves stay more than 6 hrs (8-10).
Are calves allowed to nurse their dams?	Lowest risk = almost never (0-1). Moderate risk = most calves stay 1-4 hrs (4-6). Highest risk = most calves stay more than 6 hrs (8-10).

Risk factors for the maternity or calving area assess the potential of a new born to ingest MAP from manure of adult cattle. Reflecting the importance of this area, 10 is the maximum score for each of the 6 risk factors to score. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high. Consider all sources for potential manure contamination including, colostrum or milk from infected cows, accidental contamination of any colostrum, milk, feed or pen surfaces from mature cattle, utensils, equipment, traffic splatter or people.

Pre-Weaned Heifer Risks

The age of this group extends to 12 months. 7 is the maximum score for each of the 5 risk factors to score. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high. Risk factors assess the potential of a calf to ingest manure with MAP. Consider all sources of potential contamination including manure runoff from cow herd, being fed refused feed from cows, sharing pasture or water with mature cattle, accidental contamination of any colostrum, milk, feed or pen surfaces from mature cattle, equipment, traffic splatter or people.Post-/Weaned Heifer RisksThis group of cattle is usually over 12 months of age. 5 is the maximum score for each of the 5 risk factors to score. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high. Consider all sources of potential contamination including manure runoff from cow herd, being fed refused feed from cows, sharing pasture or water with mature cattle, accidental contamination of any colostrum, milk, feed or pen surfaces from mature cattle, equipment, traffic splatter or people.

Bred Heifer Risks

Even though cattle over 24 months of age are believed to be less susceptible to JD, infected cattle may shed MAP and other pathogens in the feces and add significantly to the overall pathogen load in the environment. One of the primary objectives of a management plan is to reduce this pathogen load. Risk factors for this group should be assessed for the potential of a cow to ingest significant amounts of MAP from the environment over time. 4 is the maximum score for each of the 4 risk factors to score. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high. Consider all sources for potential contamination including accidental contamination of any feed, water from other mature cattle, equipment, traffic splatter or people.Cow and Bull RisksAnimals acquired from outside sources may pose a significant risk for many diseases, including Johne’s. Preventing entrance of pathogens into a herd is a primary biosecurity objective of the management plan. The maximum score for this risk is high reflecting the importance animal introductions to introduce a new or maintain an existing pathogen in the herd. The assessment is based on the type of source (4 options) and number of animals (select the box) that enter the herd from each. The app automatically calculates the total score and the overall estimated risk; low to high.

This summary table complies scores of all 6 aspects of the RAMP. It helps users compare risk scores between different farm management areas. The maximum score for each area is provided along with the herd’s score and shows the proportion of total herd risk attributable to each area. The pie chart provides as a visual interpretation of this risk distribution. This summary will help to prioritize management areas in need of attention and/or intervention. In addition to saving this

The recommendations list allows you to choose pre-described actions or write your own for each of the farm management areas. Pick the pertinent recommendations in the order you would like them listed. You may need to scroll the view to see additional ones. After you have selected all of the recommendations you want to include, touch the “Choose Recommendations” button. The view will change to only include the ones you selected. You may alter the text at this time. You may print or email the recommendations as well as save them as a pdf file and email the compiled pdf.

Risk Factors	Scoring guidelines
Is colostrum pooled from multiple cows and fed to calves?	Lowest risk = never done or only from cows with several negative JD tests (0-1). Moderate risk = from cows with single negative JD test or from low risk group (4-6). Highest risk = from cows with unknown JD status in an infected herd (8-10).
Is colostrum fed from individual cows to calves?	Lowest risk = from likely JD negative dams to their own calves (0-1). Moderate risk = colostrum from single cow with negative test to several calves (4-6). Highest risk = from cows with unknown JD status fed to several calves (8-10).
Is unpasteurized milk pooled and fed to calves?	Lowest risk = from low risk cows (several neg. tests) (0-1). Moderate risk = from cows with one negative JD test (4-6). Highest risk = from cows with unknown JD status in an infected herd (8-10).
Can calf’s colostrum and/or milk be contaminated with cow manure any time?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (4-6). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (8-10).
Can calf’s feed or water be contaminated with cow manure any time?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (4-6). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (8-10).
Are calves able to come in contact with cows or cow manure in their housing?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally (4-6). Highest risk = frequently or always (8-10).
Risk Factors	Scoring guidelines
Do heifers have contact with cows or their manure?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3-5). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (6-7).
Is it possible for manure from cows to contaminate the feed?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3-5). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (6-7).
Is it possible for manure from cows to contaminate heifer water sources?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3-5). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (6-7).
Do heifers share pasture with mature cattle?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally (3-5). Highest risk = frequently or always (6-7).
Is manure spread on pasture then used by or fed to heifers?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally (3-5). Highest risk = frequently or always (6-7).
Risk Factors	Scoring guidelines
Do heifers have contact with cows or their manure?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (5).
Is it possible for manure from cows to contaminate the feed?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (5).
Is it possible for manure from cows to contaminate the water used by heifers?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (3). Highest risk = frequently from many sources (5).
Do heifers share pasture with mature cattle?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally(3). Highest risk = frequently or always (5).
Is manure spread on pasture then used by or fed to heifers?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally(3). Highest risk = frequently or always (5).
Risk Factors	Scoring guidelines
Is it possible for feed to be contaminated with manure?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (2-3). Highest risk = frequently or always from many sources (4).
Is manure contamination of the water possible?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally from a few sources (2-3). Highest risk = frequently or always from many sources (4).
Do cows have access to accumulated or stored manure?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally(2-3). Highest risk = frequently or always (4).
Is manure spread on pasture and grazed or fed the same season?	Lowest risk = never to rarely (0-1). Moderate risk = occasionally(2-3). Highest risk = frequently or always (4).

Now available on iTunes App Store.