Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program

MeCHAP Mission:

MeCHAP is a program designed to help Maine Livestock producers address the major challenges facing the food production industry today, which are issues in

Animal Health
Food Safety and Public Health
Environmental Stewardship

MeCHAP provides livestock and dairy producers with a mechanism to address key animal health risk areas important to their farm, through an objective assessment of on farm conditions and practices, with support for herd risk management plan development and diagnostic testing.

MeCHAP gives credit and recognition to food producers who employ practices that foster healthy animals and safe food.

The goals of the McCHAP program are:

1. Education

MeCHAP sponsors workshops and programs, continuing education for veterinarians and producers, publications and research to improve our understanding of animal diseases, biosecurity, and safe food production.

2. Farm risk assessment and herd management plan development

The baseline survey and risk assessment is a comprehensive survey of biosecurity on the farm, conducted by the herd’s regular veterinarian, a State or Federal veterinarian, and the producer. Risk factors are identified that could influence disease transmission, impact the health of the herd, and limit or adversely effect production. The producer and his/her veterinarian then develop a management plan that prioritizes these risk factors and suggests intervention strategies to minimize risks.

3. Herd testing and evaluation

Disease detection through testing of blood, manure and milk allows producers to identify what pathogens might be present on the farm, and to adopt control strategies specific for their farm.

MeCHAP supports all, or in part, the cost of several testing programs available to the MeCHAP-enrolled herd.
Milk bulk tank culture program for mastitis screening, performed at the UMO Diagnostic laboratory, Hitchner Hall.
Johnes (Mycobacteruim avium paratuberculosis) Elisa (Idexx) blood testing, performed in Augusta at the State-Federal lab.
Fecal cultures for Johnes organisms at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic lab.
Bovine Leukemia virus (Leucosis) blood test , in Augusta
Bovine Diarrhea Virus Persistant Infection blood test, at NYSCVM Diagnostic Lab.

If a specific area of concern is identified, MeCHAP offers assistance in tackling mastitis, Johnes disease, Salmonella, Bovine Leucosis and Bovine Viral Diarrhea infection with disease-specific risk reduction and intervention strategies.

MeCHAP is helping to purchase new equipment and sponsoring training of laboratory staff so expanded diagnostic testing can be made available locally to Maine livestock producers. MeCHAP funding also supports the veterinarians, reimbursing them for on-farm risk assessments and writing up herd plans.