Dr. Chet Rawson of Markesan - 1999

Dr. Chet Rawson of Markesan - WVMA President 1999

Photo:  Courtesy of Dr. Chet Rawson

        A major overhaul of the existing Johne’s situation.  We partnered with DATCP, WI Milk Marketing Board and the Vet School.  Areas of focus were legislative, regulatory, veterinary  and client education.  It was a major project and has had a positive impact in our state.  The other big issue was establishing a new and restructured State Diagnostic Lab.  Again, collaborating with similar industry, academic and governmental partners the effort came to a positive end.

Involvement in the WVMA

     There were several issues going on in this period. Most went on over a two to three year period.

AMDUCA

     We worked hard, led by Dr. Dave Rhoda to get meaningful information out to practitioners on how to interpret and work with the new rules on extra-label drug use. Materials were developed and meetings were held to help practitioners to get it right. I would say that the WVMA led the way on this issue nationally.

State Diagnostic Lab

      Our lab was having difficulty maintaining its accreditation because of facility, staff and administration. WVMA worked with DATCP and the SVM over a period of a few years to overcome these issues and eventually get a first class accredited animal diagnostic lab.

Johne’s

   In the late 90’s, Johne’s in Wisconsin was an underground disease. The disease was considered a pariah by producers and veterinarians alike. Failure to diagnose Johne’s led to an increase within herds and across herds for several years. Around 1998, a combined effort by the WVMA, DATCP, UW SVM, UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) brought the disease into the light and allowing for better diagnosis on an individual and herd basis. This led to a herd classification program in 2000. Once the severity of the disease was recognized it was able to be more effectively controlled and prevented. Demonstration herds were established and long term control and prevention strategies were put in place, first in the demonstration herds and then across dairies throughout the state. Many of these practices are now in place nationally.  The current Johne’s Management Certification Program for veterinarians was an outgrowth of this initiative.

FOCUS

     The WVMA client survey performed in this period stimulated the public relations project called FOCUS which was an effort to improve client communication between practitioners and their clients.

Involvement on the Executive Board

     The issues described above were committee and executive board driven.

I served as president and past president and attended all board meetings, executive board retreats and winter retreats. I attended many committee meetings and served on ad hoc committees.

Challenges and difficulties throughout presidency

      Here, a good staff and legislative counsel allowed us to work through the issues. Leslie Grendahl and Marty Schreiber were there when we needed them.

Final thoughts

I’m proud of the fact that the WVMA has been there, and continues to be for its members and public in a number of demonstrable ways. The WVMA makes a difference