DOL reminds producers to fill out risk surveys for Brucellosis Action Plan by Dec. 31

DOL reminds producers to fill out risk surveys for Brucellosis Action Plan by Dec. 31

DOL – The Montana Department of Livestock is reminding producers that the state’s Brucellosis Action Plan, which remains in effect until January 10, 2010, calls for testing of all sexually intact cattle 12 months of age and older in Area 1 (Beaverhead, Carbon, Gallatin, Madison, Park, Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties) by December 31, 2009.

“It’s important that producers in Area 1 get risk surveys filled out as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Eric Liska, the department’s brucellosis program veterinarian.

Once producers complete an operation-specific risk survey, they will receive a letter from the department detailing specific testing requirements based on the risk of brucellosis transmission from seropositive elk. Depending on the risks, the letter may provide a variance on the BAP’s whole-herd testing requirement. Without a variance, a whole-herd brucellosis test must be completed by December 31, 2009.

Liska said failure to complete the risk survey could result in restrictions on moving cattle.

“The producer letter is required for moving cattle out of Area 1, and must be presented to the brand inspector at the time of inspection,” Liska said. “We just don’t want producers to get held up when moving or selling cattle.”

Cattle from Area 1 could go straight to slaughter without a whole-herd test, but any private treaty sales would be precluded without completing a risk survey.

For additional information about the plan and risk survey, see the department’s Brucellosis Updates web page. For assistance completing a risk survey, contact Liska at 406/444-2043 or your local extension agent.