Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) causes chronic wasting and suffering in cattle. Effective control programmes reduce both welfare impacts and economic losses.
Cattle with clinical Johne's disease experience progressive emaciation, weakness, and chronic diarrhoea before death. The condition causes prolonged suffering that is difficult to address without culling. Early testing and removal of test-positive animals, combined with biosecurity to prevent infection spread, is essential for herd welfare.