Economic Analysis of the Cross‐Reactivity of Johne's Disease Vaccination with Tuberculosis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

We formulate a model that determines the net benefit of Johne's disease vaccination within a tuberculosis‐accredited region given the extra costs associated with the vaccine‐related cross‐reactivity with tuberculosis test results and the probability of a tuberculosis outbreak. We apply the model to Minnesota and Michigan, where tuberculosis has recently become endemic. The expected benefit of Johne's vaccination of $53.03 per cow exceeds the cost of Johne's cross‐reactivity of $32.72 and $32.42 per cow within each of the two Minnesota tuberculosis regions, as well as $31.99 and $30.78 per cow within each of the two Michigan tuberculosis regions.