Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Johne's Disease Welfare Management

Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) causes chronic wasting in sheep. Management of affected animals and prevention of spread are both welfare priorities.

Key Facts

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis causes Johne's disease
Infection occurs in young lambs but clinical signs appear years later
Chronic diarrhoea and progressive weight loss characterize the disease
No effective treatment exists - humane culling is indicated for clinical cases
Test-and-cull programs reduce herd prevalence over time

Welfare Considerations

Sheep with clinical Johne's disease experience progressive weight loss, chronic diarrhoea, and weakness over months. The protracted nature of the clinical disease means suffering accumulates significantly before the condition is recognized and addressed. Early detection through testing enables timely culling before severe suffering develops.

What You Can Do

Implement a flock health plan including Johne's disease testing
Ensure clinical Johne's cases are humanely culled promptly
Maintain biosecurity on animal purchases to prevent introduction
Support research into Johne's disease vaccines for sheep