Livestock TB Testing Begins Next Week

Livestock TB Testing Begins Next Week

June 12, 2009

15,000 Head May be Tested

Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach and State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes updated livestock producers Thursday on the bovine tuberculosis (TB) case in Rock County. The two spoke to a crowd of roughly 500 producers at the Nebraska Farm and Ranch Expo in Bassett.

 

NDA announced on June 1 that a cow from a Rock County beef herd had tested positive for bovine TB. This herd remains under quarantine as officials trace the movement of cattle into and out of the TB-affected herd. They also are identifying any cattle that may have been pastured next to the affected herd during the past two years.

"Locating all cattle that have had possible exposure to the TB-affected herd through the fence lines is critical because bovine TB is primarily transmitted through nose to nose contact," Ibach said. "We have had outstanding support from producers as we've tackled this task."

Hughes said this part of the epidemiological investigation has led to the quarantine of approximately 31 herds in Rock, Holt, Loup, Boyd and Brown counties. Approximately 15,000 cattle will be tested, beginning next week.

"These are animals that may have had the opportunity for exposure to the affected herd through fence line contact, so all cattle over 12 months of age within these herds will need to be tested for TB," Hughes said. "We are assembling the necessary trained individuals to facilitate testing of this magnitude."

"We ask for continued assistance from cattle producers in Rock County and the surrounding area."

NDA News Release

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