State Increases Testing Requirements in Bovine TB Affected Area
US - Since deer have been identified as infected with bovine tuberculosis in northwestern Minnesota, the Board of Animal Health announced it will increase testing requirements for cattle herds located within a 12-mile area surrounding the positive deer.
10 April 2007
1 minute read
Surveillance by the state Department of Natural Resources of hunter harvested free-ranging white-tailed deer during the last two hunting seasons identified seven TB-infected deer within the immediate vicinity of formerly TB-infected cattle premises. The potential for contact with TB-infected deer poses a risk to cattle herds in the area.
BAH, with the input from producers whose herds are located in the core area as well as the state's cattle industry, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the USDA and the state DNR, has outlined a plan for managing cattle herds in this area to protect these herds and the state's beef industry from this risk.
Under the plan, the Board will work with cattle producers in the core area to implement measures such as fencing and alternative feeding and watering methods to mitigate the risk of interaction between deer and cattle. Producers will inventory and TB-test their cattle herds annually. All animals in the core area will also require testing prior to moving off the farm.
"The testing will ensure early detection of any new TB infection in cattle that might result from exposure to TB-infected deer," says BAH executive director and state veterinarian Bill Hartmann. "In addition, these measures will provide assurance to other states and cattle markets that animals in this core area are not infected with TB."
Herds located near the core area will be included in a TB Management Zone. These herds will need to test annually. All required tests will be done at government expense.
Source: The Farmer
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