Agricultural News
Texas Animal Health Commission Discontinues Brucellosis Testing at Markets
Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:16:50 CDT
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has announced that effective August 1, 2011, government subsidized Brucellosis testing at all Texas livestock markets will be discontinued, due to a lack of funding available to pay for future testing. The TAHC will no longer enforce the requirement that all test eligible (adult) cattle be Brucellosis tested for a change of ownership within Texas.
After diligently working to eradicate Brucellosis "Bangs" from cattle for almost 50 years, on February 1, 2008, the USDA declared Texas Brucellosis free. "The discontinuation of brucellosis testing will not affect Texas' Brucellosis-free state status," Dr. Dee Ellis, State Veterinarian, said. "We remind Texas producers, marketers and veterinarians however, that maintaining a Brucellosis-free Texas requires constant awareness and vigilance. Although the TAHC will no longer enforce the requirement for Brucellosis testing of adult cattle, cattle producers are encouraged to discuss the issue with their veterinary practitioner prior to purchasing replacement cattle," Ellis said.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of cattle that can cause abortions, weak calves and low milk production. Humans can also catch brucellosis (undulant fever) most commonly by consuming unpasteurized milk products or handling contaminated birthing material when assisting with difficult calving situations in infected cows.
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the state's oldest and largest livestock association, recently passed a policy regarding the state's brucellosis program in anticipation of the discontinuation of Brucellosis testing. The policy was approved Friday at the TSCRA Summer Meeting in New Braunfels.
"It is critical that Texas maintain its brucellosis free status," said Joe Parker Jr., rancher and TSCRA president. "The state's budget cuts have created some challenges, but cattle raisers are ready to work alongside the Texas Animal Health Commission and USDA to overcome those challenges and keep Texas a brucellosis free state."
Any budget driven changes to the state brucellosis program should not appreciably increase the risk for brucellosis in the state cattle herd; should be in compliance with the national brucellosis program; and should not impact interstate movement of Texas cattle due to restrictions and/or increased brucellosis testing requirement s imposed by other states.
TSCRA supports changes to the state program that supports the following:
-Discontinuation of the mandatory requirement of first point brucellosis testing at all auction, private and show sales.
-Encouragement of voluntary brucellosis testing, especially for cattle returning to herds for breeding purposes.
-Continued emphasis on brucellosis vaccination of heifers as recommended by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
-Establish, together with the TAHC, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other cattle industry stakeholders, compliance requirements that will keep Texas brucellosis free.
-Establish first point and packer level surveillance procedures to measure compliance with federal requirements.
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