Regional control platform for bovine leukosis

Executive Summary

Bovine leukosis is identified as one of the silent affections that affects the health, productivity, and therefore, the economic performance of herds. Its asymptomatic presentation in 90% of the cases and consequently, little identified and valued in terms of productive losses. The growing demand for diagnosis, the appearance of tumors, sudden deaths as a consequence of them, and the absence of official sanitary measures, makes it a prospective threat for the dairy sector. Together with tuberculosis, brucellosis and sadness, it makes up the set of diseases identified in the animal health programs of the different countries, which deserve specific attention, both in technology for a better diagnosis, and in the construction of health policies that allow the initiation of strategies of control. In Latin America and the Caribbean, bovine leukosis causes fatal tumors recently valued at US $ 5,000 per cow killed with lymphosarcoma (in Argentina).
As a positive side effect, dairy and meat products will be provided to the market with an added value due to their quality of "leukosis free" in a social context of growing demand for food safety and in concurrence with recent reports that propose that the Consumption of bovine meat or milk from herds with leukosis constitutes a threat to public health.

Results

Beneficiaries

14 million dairy cattle distributed among around 470,000 producers, and produce around 20,000 million liters of milk considering Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama, which means around 26% of all Latin America and the Caribbean (excludes Mexico and Brazil).

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products