Most Minnesota cattle no longer need TB test to go to North Dakota
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/15/2010 4:05 PM
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BISMARCK, N.D.-- Most Minnesota beef cattle no longer need a tuberculosis test before going to North Dakota.
The state's animal health board voted June 23 to immediately revoke an order that required negative TB tests on cattle, bison, goats, farmed cervids and camelids. The lifted requirements apply to Minnesota's Modified Accredited Advanced zone, the majority of the state.
This brings North Dakota in line with federal regulations, which in April lifted TB testing requirements for these producers.
The board made it's decision because they were impressed with efforts made by Minnesota to control and eradicate the disease, said Beth Carlson, North Dakota's deputy state veterinarian.
"The board made its decision based on current science and on the surveillance and management actions that have been taken to minimize the risk of the movement of tuberculosis," North Dakota's state veterinarian, Susan Keller, said in a statement. "We need to recognize proactive and effective actions that other states have taken to prevent the movement of disease out of their states as well as within their states."
A negative TB test is still needed on cattle from northwestern Minnesota's Modified Accredited zone, where the disease has been found in the past. Also still required are TB tests on rodeo and dairy cattle, a restriction that applies to all states.
Joe Martin, Minnesota bovine TB coordinator, said North Dakota's action is great news. He expects it to have an immediate market impact.
The TB test requirement brought the number of Minnesota cattle at Central Livestock West Fargo down to practically zero, according to branch manager Mike Hilde.
All Minnesota cattle needed to have a negative whole herd test, regardless of whether a producer wanted to send only one bull or heifer. Depending on when the herd test took place and the animal's age, an individual negative test might have also been required.
"Some guys that went through the whole herd TB test didn't want to do it again," Hilde said.
The West Fargo market's total numbers were down an estimated 25 percent to 30 percent without Minnesota cattle.
Hilde anticipates those numbers, and maybe even some additional, will eventually return. But they aren't likely to come back completely until North Dakota lifts all their restrictions, he said. The state still requires a certificate of veterinary inspection, an import permit number and official identification for Minnesota animals. Keller would like producers importing to North Dakota to call their state office at (701) 328-2655 for detailed requirements.
"The TB testing requirement has been lifted, but the cattle —Minnesota cattle—still need to be officially identified to come in to the state, so it isn't without some inconvenience yet to the seller, and the tagging needs to be done on the farm," said Hilde. "...North Dakota is trying to protect its TB-free status and I don't blame them."
For the time being, he considers the animal health board's decision a "significant step forward."
Other states
Of Minnesota's significant trading partners, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin still have some type of TB test requirement on Minnesota beef cattle from the MAA zone before they cross into their states. Iowa's assistant state veterinarian, Randy Wheeler, said his state is considering lightening their restrictions for most of Minnesota producers.
Illinois is not considering any changes. Wisconsin also hasn't indicated they will remove restrictions, Martin said.
"It's our plan to continue to talk with them and convince them to lift some of their testing requirements...Wisconsin is a very different story. The market impact there is really dairy animals, so I think it's a different conversation."
The meeting
Martin was present at the North Dakota animal health board's quarterly meeting, where the vote took place. He was joined by Minnesota state veterinarian Bill Hartmann and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Fish and Wildlife deputy director Ed Boggess. They discussed Minnesota's procedures for controlling cattle movement and monitoring the prevalence of the disease. North Dakota's board expressed concerns about the disease spreading between cattle and wildlife.
"I think we impressed on them that we've removed a lot of deer in the area. The deer we have found (that tested positive) are in a small area," Martin said.
"All indicators at this state is the prevalence of the disease in wild deer is going down," Boggess told Agri News.
TB monitoring
The latest deer to test positive in Minnesota's MA zone was found in November, 2009, during a public hunt. Sharp shooters returned from February to April and took 450 more samples. None showed obvious outward signs of TB. They are being tested through the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Results are expected this summer.
No Minnesota cattle have tested positive for TB since December, 2008. All infected cattle have been found in the Modified Accredited zone.
Minnesota's upgrade request
Minnesota submitted a request to USDA earlier this year to upgrade both bovine TB statuses in the state. This would bring the majority of producers into an Accredited Free, or TB free, zone. The MA zone would bump up to Modified Accredited Advanced.
"We're working with them on a daily basis and our goal is to still have the state upgraded by Oct. 1, and we don't see any reason why that shouldn't happen, but I can't speak for USDA," said Martin.