The Great Christmas “GRAND” PRIZE
GIVEAWAY
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DAIRY ST R
Volume 20, No. 18
Tuberculosis discovered in Dane County herd Standard biosecurity practices can keep area herds safe By Stacey Smart Contributing Writer
A dairy farm in Dane County, Wis., recently tested positive for bovine tuberculosis when the disease was discovered in a carcass during a routine slaughter inspection. The carcass was traced back to the herd, which was immediately quarantined by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Since then, two more cows from the same farm have also been conrmed as having TB. “The level of concern should be no higher today than it was a month ago,” said Dr. Mike Etter, Lodi Veterinary Care, Lodi, Wis. “Farms must practice good biosecurity at all times to control and prevent disease, not just when there is an incident.” Tuberculosis is a chronic respiratory disease that can affect both animals and humans. Bovine tuberculosis is caused by the Mycobacterium bovis bacteria and can spread to any warm-blooded mammal, including humans. Humans can also spread the disease to animals, which is believed to be how TB was transmitted to the farm in Dane County. The strain of bovine TB matched the strain for an individual who worked on the farm in 2015. That person completed treatment for TB and did not return to the farm. This data is preliminary and complete sample analysis for the herd is ongoing to conrm all possible sources of infection. M. bovis is similar to the bacteria that causes human tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and avian tuberculosis (M. avium). Although contagious, TB does not spread easily. “Tuberculosis is not virulent like foot and mouth disease,” Etter said. “It can’t be spread through the wind to neighboring farms and is typically only introduced through direct contact with other cattle, the most common way being if you buy an infected cow and bring her into your herd. Therefore, know where you’re buying cattle from and perform disease testing before bringing new animals onto your farm. These are things every dairy should be doing every day. If you are, there’s no need for alarm.” According to records provided by the United States Department of Turn to TB | Page 5
“All dairy, all the time”™
November 10, 2018
Drafted to the Vietnam War
Military service shaped Dettmann’s farming career By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
JOHNSON CREEK, Wis. – An experience he would not trade for anything but also something he would not wish on anyone is how Tim Dettmann, of Johnson Creek, Wis., describes being drafted to serve a two-year tour of duty in the Army in Vietnam in 1966. Dettmann had planned to take over operation of his father’s dairy farm beginning Jan. 1, 1966. The date had been chosen due to tax purposes. Tim had attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course in March of 1965 and had a school deferment from the draft during his attendance. In the interim of leaving school and taking over the farm, Tim found a seasonal job in Johnson Creek, Wis. As a result of working, he lost his draft deferment. Turn to VETERAN | Page 7
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Tim DeƩmann of Johnson Creek, Wis., served a two-year tour of duty in Vietnam aŌer being draŌed in 1966, despite plans that were in moƟon to take over his father’s farm.
Crave Brothers adds value through farmstead cheese
More dairies are seeking value-added activities as a way to increase income By Stacey Smart Staff Writer
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
George and Debbie Crave manage Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, which specializes in making mozzarella cheese at its value-added, on-farm cheese plant in Waterloo, Wis.
WATERLOO, Wis. – Making cheese from farm-fresh milk is how Crave Brothers Farm in Waterloo, Wis., adds value to its dairy operation. Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese was started in 2001 across the street from the dairy farm. Since then, this mozzarella cheese factory has grown to 40,000 square feet and 70 employees. Their award-winning cheeses are sold coast to coast and at popular retailers like Whole Foods Market, Hy-Vee and Woodman’s. Visitors partaking in a value-added dairy tour sponsored by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin had the Turn to CRAVE | Page 6