Fifteen years of milk quality assurance for paratuberculosis in Dutch dairy herds: results indicate decreasing infection pressure

In 2006, a milk quality assurance programme (MQAP) for paratuberculosis in Dutch dairy herds was initiated to reduce the concentration of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in bulk milk. The aim of this paper is to present results achieved in a 15-year period (2006-2020) in the first cohort of 718 dairy herds that entered the programme in 2006 and 2007. During the 15-year period the proportion of participating herds with the preferred herd status (status A) increased to 80%. Moreover, a decreasing apparent prevalence and an increasing age at onset of test-positivity were observed. These observations are indicative of a reduced transmission of MAP after long-lasting participation in the MQAP. The results of this study indicate that the MQAP positively contributes to the control of MAP in the Dutch dairy herds.