Restrictions Heaped on TB Minnesota
US - The United States Department of Agriculture has amended the status of Minnesota due to the prevalence of Bovine Tuberculosis.
9 April 2008
2 minute read
The new zone classification will bring restrictions to cattle on interstate movement in accordance to federal regulations.
Other requirements will include increased TB testing and certification requirements will affect all cattle and bison moving interstate except those animals moving to slaughter or originating from accredited herds.
Prior to this interim rule, Minnesota was designated as modified accredited advanced. Federal regulations for accredited status are based on the prevalence of TB in a state or zone, and four TB-infected herds have recently been detected in Minnesota. To qualify as modified accredited advanced, a state or zone with fewer than 30,000 cattle herds—such as Minnesota—may have up to three affected herds for each of the most recent 2 years.
APHIS classifies states or zones within states according to its level of occurrence of bovine TB. There are five classification designations: accredited free; modified accredited advanced; modified accredited, accredited preparatory and nonaccredited. Restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves accredited free status.
Bovine TB is a contagious and infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other warm-blooded species and can be fatal. The disease can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of raw milk. It is not transmitted through consumption of pasteurized milk.
The interim rule will be effective upon publication in the April 9 Federal Register.
Further Reading
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- | Find out more on Bovine Tuberculosis by clicking here. |
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