Appropriate management measures to prevent new infections in infected herds are emphasized in the Dutch paratuberculosis control program with the aim is to raise a new uninfected cow generation to replace the infected live stock. Alternative methods are pursued to answer to the demand of farmers wishing to eradicate paratuberculosis faster. One of the postulated alternatives is a rapid eradication program aiming to identify all infected cattle during a one year test period, using three different tests simultaneously. The outlines of this schedule were: serological test by ELISA in all animals > 24 months, fecal culture of all animals > 6 months, and a gamma interferon assay of all young stock > 6 months. At the same time It was advised to remove all test-positive animals promptly and to carry out alle required preventive management measures. This approach has been tested in 14 dairy herds with a low Mptb-prevalence (<10% culture-positives). The herds were tested twice during the first year and were followed another three years with yearly tests to estimate the results of the program. After 4 years only 3 of the 13 herds were repeatedly test-negative. In 4 herds culture-positive animals were detected in each herd test. In 4 herds culture-negative herd tests were alternated with culture-positive herd tests. From 3 herds results were incomplete because 2 farmers quitted the program due to their refusal to cull the test-positive animals and 1 farmer ended business. It can be concluded that, with the strategy as applied in this trial, not all infected animals are diagnosed during the one year test period. So, freedom of paratuberculosis can not be guaranteed in these herds afterwards. Until now removal of fecal shedders in combination with management measures remains the most cost-effective way to eradicate paratuberculosis from dairy herds in a shortest possible period of time.