Department of Livestock Accepting Comments on Proposed Brucellosis Action Plan

Montana State Veterinarian, Dr. Martin Zaluski, has recently met with industry leaders and cattle producers to devise a plan that will enable Montana to regain its brucellosis class-free status as soon as possible while eliminating expensive testing for producers who ranch in areas of the state that are not at risk of infection. 

The federal government agrees with Governor Schweitzer that regionalization, or split-state, for this disease appears to make the most sense.  The states of Wyoming and Idaho have reached the same conclusion.  MCA has supported the idea for some time as this is the best way to focus efforts on the problem and address the high-risk area.  MCA is committed to working with state officials to obtain financial relief for those in the high-risk area with their testing costs and to make sure cattle sold from this area do not lose market share.

Dr. Zaluski has prepared a Draft Brucellosis Action Plan outlining testing requirements in the area around Yellowstone Park where a reservoir of brucellosis in wildlife exists and wildlife-to-cattle contamination is possible.  The Board of Livestock is asking for the public to submit comments on this plan by October 10.  The document may be found on our website www.montanacattlemen.org. 

The MCA Board of Directors will be submitting comments and MCA members are encouraged to telephone or email the MCA office or the director in your area with your concerns and suggestions so MCA can formulate remarks that will be in the best interests of our members.

Also, here is a link to a collection of articles and official documents regarding the brucellosis situation around Yellowstone.  It gives a very good historical context:  http://governor.mt.gov/brucellosis/brucellosislinks.asp 

MCA is extremely appreciative of the hard work Dr. Zaluski, the Board of Livestock, and the Department of Livestock are doing to accomplish a satisfactory resolution to Montana's brucellosis problem as quickly as possible.