Following announcements in May concerning the detection of cattle herds infected with bovine tuberculosis (TB), the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) has issued a situational update regarding the herds in Presque Isle and Emmet counties in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture says Northern Michigan herds infected with bovine tuberculosis have been linked to infected deer herds in the area using genome sequencing.
MDARD said routine bovine TB surveillance testing found the initial infected cattle herd was identified in Presque Isle County, and as a result of movement investigations, it quickly located a second bovine TB-infected animal that had been sold from the Presque Isle County herd to a herd in Emmet County.
State veterinarian Nora Wineland says because the Presque Isle County herd was recently assembled from herds no longer in business, it’s not possible to determine the specific time and location when deer made contact with cattle.
All of the remaining animals from the herd in Presque Isle County have been removed, MDARD said, adding that the only animal infected found in the Emmet County herd was the one moved from the Presque Isle County herd. The infected animal was removed from the Emmet County herd, which is under quarantine and will continue to undergo testing to confirm that the remainder of the herd is negative for bovine TB.
Through its surveillance program, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) typically finds one to two bovine TB-infected deer every year in Presque Isle County, according to MDARD.
TB testing will continue for herds in Presque Isle, Cheboygan and Emmet counties and additional meetings are scheduled for producers in the region.
“Bovine TB is a serious disease to humans and animals, and finding bovine TB in cattle in an area that has been designated TB free is concerning,” Barr said. “Preventing the spread of bovine TB from infected free-ranging white-tailed deer to cattle herds is a top priority. Cattle owners in these areas must actively work to protect their herds daily.
“Cattle producers can protect their herds by ensuring stored feeds cannot be accessed by deer, feeding and watering sites are located in areas away from deer activity, fruit and nut trees are removed from in and around cattle areas and by using disease control permits from the DNR to remove deer that use their farm as their food source and are a disease threat to the cattle,” she added.
The DNR is encouraging hunters to get out this fall and report any animals that look suspicious, saying increased hunting helps fight the disease.
MDARD Director Gary McDowell recently told the Michigan Ag Commission the proposed budget cuts in the legislature for the bovine TB program are very concerning. The Senate is proposing almost a 60 percent cut to the program. If passed, Michigan’s TB status could be downgraded by the USDA if the state is unable to meet current testing requirements, potentially devastating the state’s cattle and dairy industries.
