Change in bovine TB regulations to benefit Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A change in federal regulations on bovine tuberculosis is expected to benefit Minnesota cattle producers.

Before they restrict the movement of cattle across state lines, regulators now have flexibility to consider the actual risks of bovine TB transmission and to credit a state’s efforts to control the disease.

Minnesota Bovine TB Coordinator Joe Martin says Thursday’s change could save cattle producers thousands of dollars in testing costs.

South Dakota and Nebraska say they likely will now allow imports of untested cattle from most of Minnesota. Martin expresses hope that North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin will follow.

Restrictions remain in place for a pocket of northwestern Minnesota where bovine TB has been found in some wild deer and cows.

On the Net:

Minnesota Board of Animal Health Bovine TB Response

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Tags: bovine tb, livestock, agribusiness, safety, beef, dairy, minnesota