The Livestock Industry and Brucellosis in Montana
By Jay Bodner, Montana Stockgrowers Association
History
Brucellosis was first diagnosed in the Yellowstone bison herd in 1917. In response to concerns over brucellosis, the National Park Service implemented a version of parkwide capture, test and slaughter or vaccination in 1964–65. These efforts were halted with the change of policies in 1967. This decision contributed to the Greater Yellowstone Area remaining one of the last known reservoirs for brucellosis.
Brucellosis surveys that were conducted starting in the 1950’s and 1960’s, showed bison had about a 50 percent prevalence of the disease. This not only affects the health of the bison herd, but also threatens Montana’s livestock industry and human health.
In 1934 the Cooperative State Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program began. This was a national scale effort to eliminate animals with this disease. This disease had a significant impact on the livestock industry in our country with annual losses from lowered milk production, aborted calves and pigs, and reduced breeding efficiency costing the industry more than $400 million in 1952.
In 1967, the National Park Service implemented a redirection in park policies. At that time 397 bison were counted within the boundaries. The park service’s implementation of "Natural Regulation," attempted to allow bison, elk, and other animals to reach population levels dictated by environmental conditions.
In 1985 Montana’s livestock industry was certified brucellosis–free after the expenditure of more than $30 million by the industry. Montana is currently classified by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) as "class free," which allows for transport of cattle across state lines without testing for brucellosis.
Brucellosis Status
- Brucellosis classifications are as follows: Class Free, Class A, Class B, and Class C. When brucellosis is found in more than one herd of cattle in a brucellosis–free state within a two–year period, the state is downgraded to Class A status.
- Essentially, the requirements for states with Class A status are that all test–eligible cattle shall be tested for brucellosis within 30 days prior to change of ownership. If cattle were going directly to slaughter from the farm or ranch of origin and the identity of the herd of origin is maintained, they were exempt from this test requirement.
- Following Wyoming’s loss of "Class Free" status,
Montana implemented these testing requirements:
- All female beef cattle over 24 months old, coming from Wyoming to Montana, would be tested as would all dairy females over 20 months. Any cow in its third trimester of pregnancy would be tested along with any female that fell under the age restrictions and already had a calf.
- For bison, non-vaccinated females 12 months or older and all vaccinated females would be tested. The testing requirements apply to such animals that are sexually intact. All intact males, cattle or bison that are more than 12 months old must be tested.
- Surrounding states also implemented testing requirements
for cattle and bison being imported
from Wyoming and Idaho:
- Oregon Requirements: Ages cattle must test within 30 days of entering the state. For Beef cattle, all heifers and cows over 24 months and bulls 18 months would be tested.
- Colorado Requirements: Dairy and beef cattle 12 months of age and older and bison over 6 months of age and older shall be test negative to an approved brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry and be quarantined and isolated then retested 45–120 days after arrival. These cattle or bison shall be individually identified with an ear tag with ear tag numbers recorded on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or attach the official Brucellosis test chart to the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and obtain an entry permit.
Costs to the Livestock Industry for Downgrading Brucellosis Status
- Officials estimate the cost of brucellosis testing at about $5 to $15 a head.
- APHIS has estimated if Montana certification changed from brucellosis "Class Free" to "Class A," the states cattle producers might incur additional testing from $5 to 16 million per year over several years.
- In many cases, the cattle herd with a brucellosis reactor is depopulated with indemnity.
- APHIS has also estimated that Montana cattle producers income could be reduced by $5 to 23 million over several years because of reduced demand from out–of–state buyers.
- In Wyoming, the House Agriculture Committee of the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill to appropriate $1.6 million to compensate ranchers for the cost of testing the target animals.
- Even if a "Class Free" status is regained, the other states will likely have additional requirements, so the costs will still exist.