Wisconsin bTB Tests South Dakota Cattle

US - Now that a herd of beef cattle in South Dakota has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture is requiring all cattle coming in from that state to meet bTB testing requirements first.
calendar icon 16 November 2011
clock icon 1 minute read

This week, Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr Bob Ehlenfeldt announced that although South Dakota's bTB-free status has not been downgraded, Wisconsin needs to require testing unless the animals are going to be slaughtered when they arrive.

"South Dakota has fought this fight before and eradicated bTB, but we can't take chances in Wisconsin," Dr Ehlenfeldt said. "The dairy industry is too important to our economy to risk by letting our guard down."

The new requirements include negative individual tests within 60 days before import for dairy and beef cattle brought in for breeding or exhibition, or as feeder cattle; negative individual tests for veal calves that are 30 days or older unless they're confined to one premises from arrival until they go to slaughter; all animals will be exempt from testing requirements if they are from accredited bTB-free herds, or go direct to slaughter or approved import feedlots.

South Dakota's state veterinarian announced last week that a TB-infected herd had been found in the southeastern part of the state. Animal health authorities in South Dakota are tracing other herds that might be connected with the infected herd.

The state previously found two infected cattle herds in January 2010 and destroyed both.

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