Beartooth NBC Online News

MCA Split State

Brucellosis, a disease that causes abortions in cattle and wildlife, was found in some cattle herds around Yellowstone Park earlier this year. While no more cases were reported, if one more case is diagnosed, Montana will lose its disease-free status. Cattle ranchers across the state are working on a solution before another case breaks out. The Montana Cattlemen's Association is holding discussions on a proposed "split-state status" classification for the state's cattle industry. Brett DeBruycker, President, MT Cattlemen's Association: "What the Montana Cattlemen's Association proposes is that there would be an area, a so-called "hot zone" area, that they would be the ones, the producers in that area, would have to do that additional testing, whereas the rest of the state would not have to." The proposal would also protect the state's brucellosis-free status. Janice French, MT Dept. of Livestock: "It's very critical because a "split-state status," if there was another case of brucellosis, would keep the rest of the state from losing their brucellosis-free status. It would only be a zone around Yellowstone Park that would lose it, and would have to go through the bleeding of the breeding age livestock." However, DeBruycker says this doesn't mean producers in the "hot zone" would be hung out to dry. "This is an important issue to all Montana ranchers and we need to take this head-on and do it in a positive, common sense approach to where it does not cost producers in the state a bunch of money." If Montana loses its brucellosis-free status, producers statewide could face more than 15 million dollars in testing fees per year. The Department of Livestock will make the final decision on the proposal. In the meantime, testing for the disease is on-going in the cattle herds near Yellowstone Park. Story published / updated: 8:19 AM, Tue Oct 23