State Officials Field Bovine TB Questions
EMMET COUNTY -- Questions are swirling after a cattle herd in Emmet County tested positive for Bovine Tuberculosis.
The news came last month, but Wednesday night farmers had their first chance to sit down with environmental regulators and find out just how the discovery affects them.
Even though just one herd in the area tested positive, every other one in a ten mile radius must be tested, and that has farmers concerned about the danger and the cost.
Farmer Justin Tippitt asks, “Are they going to have tighter standards or stay the same?”
The infected cows in Emmet County are still alive and on the farm. State officials say the case is ongoing and they don’t exactly know how the animals got the disease in the first place.
DNRE Biologist, Brian Mastenbrook says “I am surprised this happened. They are going to check the soil and smaller animals to try and figure out where the disease came from.”
TB can be transmitted from animals to humans. Farms have been ordered to conduct whole herd tests within 6 months. It won’t cost them any money, but it will cost them time on the farm helping vets conduct the tests.
Michigan Department of Agriculture, TB Eradication Program Coordinator, Dr. James Averill says “If we are not controlling Bovine TB, it could hurt sail of dairy product and beef cattle sale of meat.”
The DNRE adds that it is important to monitor and test white tailed deer in the area since they can carry the disease. Farmers have access to permits that will help eliminate deer interaction with their cattle.
