Department of Livestock Announces New Brucellosis Case, Class-Free Status Lost

Helena - The Montana Department of Livestock announced today that a cow in Paradise Valley has tested positive for brucellosis. The cow had been tested as a regular part of producer-initiated herd plans.  The plans were implemented to provide enhanced disease surveillance due to risk of transmission of brucellosis from elk to cattle in the area. Increased vaccination, testing, and surveillance of elk is called for in the individualized plans.

 According to State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski, the brucellosis-positive cow had been vaccinated for brucellosis twice and the rest of the herd has tested negative. This marks the second brucellosis case in Montana in just over a year. The first case occurred in May of 2007 when the disease was discovered in a herd near Bridger. The entire herd, totaling nearly 600 cows and calves, was depopulated to maintain Montana’s class-free status. Under USDA APHIS rules, a state may have only one positive herd in any two-year period to remain brucellosis class-free. Montana’s status will be downgraded to Class A in four to eight weeks and the state will be able to apply for class-free status on May 27, 2009.

 “Our industry has anticipated the risk in that area and has responded by aggressively stepping up our disease surveillance through producer-initiated herd plans,” said Errol Rice, MSGA’s Executive Vice President. “This assured that if we had a breakthrough of the disease, we would be able to find it, neutralize it and prevent further spread.”

 Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has already attacked the Montana Stockgrowers for “mischaracterizing and opposing” split-state status, a plan he said would better manage brucellosis.

 “Split-state status could not have prevented this transmission,” Rice said.

“First, there is no way the state of Montana could have fulfilled the requirements for split-state status in time for this incident. Second, splitting the state is not the answer. Potential breakthroughs from wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Area are a problem facing all Montanans, not just the ranchers who operate in that area.”

 “Our producers took the issue into their own hands and the work they have already done will likely be beneficial when we are able to reapply for class-free status,” Rice continued. “We need the state of Montana to reciprocate by dealing with its diseased wildlife.”

 The downgrade to Class A status for brucellosis will mean that Montana’s livestock producers will now be required to test bulls and non-spayed females, 18 months of age or older, 30 days prior to interstate movement.

Other states may institute additional restrictions.

 USDA APHIS will immediately begin its investigation into this latest incident and begin working to uncover the source of the disease. No source was found for the brucellosis discovered in the Bridger herd last year, though elk were suspected. In recent years, Idaho and Wyoming have lost and regained their brucellosis class-free statuses due to breakthroughs from elk to cattle.

 “It is going to be a hard road, but we’ll get through it just as Idaho and Wyoming did,” Rice said.

 The Montana Stockgrowers Association hopes to meet with industry stakeholders in the near future to discuss the implications of the downgrade of our status.