Control of paratuberculosis in beef cattle.

Abstract

As with any susceptible livestock species, the key to control of paratuberculosis in beef cattle is to reduce exposure of the susceptible calves to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)–contaminated feces. Because beef calves remain with mature, potentially shedding cattle until weaning, control strategies are aimed at providing an environment with the least possible fecal burden and removing MAP shedders as soon as possible. Testing and culling or separation may be more important in beef cattle than in dairy cattle. Seedstock owners have greater potential for economic loss from paratuberculosis, making control program more financially attractive to them than to commercial beef cattle producers.