Texas "On the Brink" of Brucellosis-Free
The Final Push to be Class “Free!”
Texas is so close to achieving Class “Free” status for cattle brucellosis (Bangs) eradication! In February 2007, the Texas Animal Health Commission submitted a request for a formal cattle brucellosis program review to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If no more infected cattle herds are detected, and the USDA review is satisfactory, Texas could achieve Class “Free” status by the end of 2007!
With cattle brucellosis “beaten down,” one of the biggest challenges now is pouring the “sweat equity” into ensuring final eradication of this disease.
What isn’t eradicated WILL reoccur!
Since 2000, Texas has had periods of time without an infected herd. Texas also is the only state that has not yet gained official brucellosis-free status from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Several states, including Louisiana, Florida, California, Idaho and Wyoming earned the coveted “brucellosis-free” standing, only to lose it, after finding two or more newly infected herds. To gain – or regain – “free” status, a state must continue testing cattle but not detect infection for at least 12 months.
The “Old Days” of Cattle Brucellosis
In the mid-1930s, more than 1 in 10 herds tested in the U.S. were infected with cattle brucellosis. Infection was a business issue, as well as an animal health problem. With such widespread infection, abortions in infected herds affected productivity. Other infected cows delivered weak calves or provided less milk. The disease was readily spread to herd mates, as cows ingested millions of brucellosis bacteria when they nuzzled or licked the newborn calves or aborted fetuses dropped by infected dams.
Brucellosis: The Issues NOW
Every state, except Texas and Idaho, is free of cattle brucellosis. (Idaho was free of the disease for more than 15 years, until infected free-ranging elk transmitted the disease at a winter cattle-feeding ground. As of early spring 2007, Idaho had applied for reinstatement of “free” status, after eradicating the infected cattle herds and conducting widespread testing.)
As always, infection remains a trade issue, but because the incidence of infection is so low, overt signs of the disease – abortions, weak calves or decreased milk production – are rarely seen. In most recently infected herds, infection has been limited to one, or less than a handful of cattle. Nevertheless, even this low level of infection sets the stage for disease spread. Even ONE infected animal is cause for concern.
While chute-side testing is conducted at the livestock market, the tests must be confirmed at the State-Federal Laboratory. Blood, and sometimes tissues, such as lymph nodes or mammary glands, are collected for follow-up testing of positive animals at the laboratory to ensure the diagnosis.
When infection is confirmed, the animal’s herd is tested. Also, an epidemiological investigation is launched to track the animal’s movement history. If the infected animal was moved several times, the epidemiological investigation can resemble a “web,” as TAHC and USDA veterinarians attempt to find and test cattle that may have been commingled with the infected animal.
Additionally, herds in the neighborhood – a mile, or if necessary, further away – also are evaluated, to determine if the infection has spread.
In recent years, most infected herds have been depopulated and indemnified at market value, with a combination of federal and state funds and the salvage payment. Alternatively, some owners have chosen a less popular option: a minimum year-long quarantine, with repeated herd tests, to ensure that all cattle that were “incubating” infection have been removed from the herd and sent to slaughter. (Cooked meat from infected cattle is safe to eat. Pasteurized milk also is safe; the heat treatment kills brucellosis bacteria.)
Testing, Testing--Infection Detection
Finding the last infected animal has been compared to searching for the proverbial needle, and the livestock market has been the largest haystack. Support from Texas’ 160-plus markets and private veterinary practitioners, and the cooperation of livestock producers has been crucial as millions of cattle were tested at livestock markets over the years.
As “insurance” against re-infection, cattle testing at Texas livestock markets will continue for at least two years after the state achieves class “free” status.
Cows and bulls 18 months or older are tested prior to change of ownership. Test requirements also apply to interstate shows and movement, and private treaty sales. USDA regulations permit cattle from “free” states to move interstate without a brucellosis test. However, states may impose stricter regulations for a time, so even after Texas gains “free” status; continue to “call before you haul!”
Recently, a working group was convened, comprised of members from the Texas cattle industry, veterinary community and the TAHC and USDA. Known as the Brucellosis Eradication Working Group (BEWG), the members met several times to discuss how to achieve AND KEEP Class “Free” status.
The working group, in particular, expressed concern about heifers and bull calves younger than 18 months of age, that are not old enough to be test-eligible. Ranchers who sell only young animals have not taken advantage of KNOWING their herd is free of brucellosis infection. The working group recommended that herd tests be offered to these livestock producers to assure that all infection has been found.
Cattle Brucellosis Vaccination:
The Issues Then
For more than a half-century, “Strain 19" vaccine was employed to protect heifers--and sometimes, adult cattle-- against the disease. The dosages were tricky; give too much, or too late, and heifers would later carry a “titer,” testing positive for brucellosis. Sorting out infection versus vaccine reaction was tough with the lab tests available. Testing and retesting of cattle became an issue, and “false-positive” blood tests at the livestock markets could result in frustration. Twice – during World War II and in the l960s--vaccination was downplayed. The result within only a few years was a rise in infection.
Cattle Brucellosis Vaccination NOW:
The biggest improvement in brucellosis vaccine came in l996, when RB-51 vaccine was introduced. This vaccine does not cause the cross-reactions on brucellosis tests.
Cattle Brucellosis Vaccination NOW?
Yes! Specific, targeted vaccination is recommended for replacement heifers that originate from East Texas... or those replacement heifers that will be moved to East Texas. Historically, counties east of Interstate 35 have had greater rates of brucellosis infection than those west of the interstate. Providing extra protection for replacement heifers makes sense, especially when “free” status is at stake!
Could YOUR herd need a test?
If you sell only calves, and your herd hasn’t been tested, maybe it’s time for a test. It’s better to know NOW, rather than later, after Texas gains “free” status!
Talk to your private veterinary practitioner or a TAHC veterinarian to assess your herd’s need for a brucellosis test. Contact your nearest TAHC Area Office:
Area 1 Amarillo - 1-800-658-6526
Area 2 Crockett - 1-800-658-6559
Area 3 Ft. Worth - 1-800-687-4603
Area 4 Mt. Pleasant - 1-800-658-6560
Area 5 Beeville - 1-800-658-6570
Area 6 Lampasas - 1-800-658-6642
Area 7 Rockdale - 1-800-552-8413
Area 8 Hallettsville - 1-800-687-8242
TSCRA: Rangers Recover Nearly $5 Million In Stolen Livestock & Equipment In 2006
FORT WORTH, TX, March 20, 2007-Stolen livestock and ranch equipment worth nearly $5 million were recovered or accounted for in 2006 by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The Fort Worth-based producer group was founded 130 years ago to fight the theft problem.
TSCRA currently has 27 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
In 2006, the association’s special rangers investigated 1,045 cases in Texas and Oklahoma, primarily involving stray or stolen livestock. Working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement officers, the special rangers recovered or accounted for 3,716 head of cattle, 144 horses, 10 trailers, 18 saddles and 414 items of miscellaneous ranch property, which had a total market value of $4,878,722.39. The average value of property recovered or accounted for each day was $13,366.
Offenders were given 168 years of prison, probated, deferred or suspended sentences and ordered to perform one year and 1,820 hours of community service. In addition, the courts ordered those convicted to pay $370,112 in restitution to the victims, $32,957 in fines and $8,415 in court costs.
The association also employs 72 market inspectors who identified 5,075,952 head of cattle sold through the 116 auction markets in Texas during 2006. The inspectors report their findings to the group’s Fort Worth headquarters, where the information is processed for computer retrieval. TSCRA distributes information on missing and stolen livestock to more than 700 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
TSCRA Director of Law Enforcement Larry Gray encouraged all cattle producers and owners of other livestock and farm and ranch equipment to take steps to protect themselves from theft. He invited them to contact their local TSCRA special ranger or the Fort Worth office for theft prevention and brand information.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 130-year-old trade organization whose 14,500 members manage approximately 5.4 million cattle on 70.3 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma.
TSCRA Animal Health Committee to Examine Veterinarian Shortage
From TSCRA Web site
Suppose your prize herd sire was dying and the nearest veterinarian was more than 100 miles away? That's the dilemma of livestock producers across the country faced with an alarming shortage of large-animal veterinarians.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that the number of large-animal practitioners has dropped from nearly 6,000 in 1990 to fewer than 4,500 today, representing less than 10 percent of private practice veterinarians. What is Texas A&M's Veterinary School doing about the problem and what can TSCRA do to help?
That will be the subject of the Animal Health Committee meeting at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 during TSCRA's annual convention in Fort Worth. Leading the discussion will be William Moyer, DVM, professor and head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University.
Bills In Texas House and Senate Seek to Overturn Horse Slaughter Ban
Late last week bills were filed in the Texas House and Senate to overturn the state law banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
Texas is home to two of the three horse slaughterhouses in the United States, both are near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Read more on The Dallas Morning News Web site.
News from The Texas Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Contributes $73 billion a Year to Texas Economy
AUSTIN — Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced that March 18-24 is National Agricultural Week in Texas — a time to recognize the state’s hardworking farmers and ranchers and acknowledge their contributions to the Texas economy – $73 billion a year.
“Take time especially on March 21, National Agriculture Day, to recognize, celebrate and thank the many individuals who help shape our Texas agriculture industry,” Commissioner Staples said. “From nutritious foods to high-quality fiber and fresh plants, agriculture provides us with the necessities of life while helping ensure a robust economy for all Texans.”
The agriculture industry is currently going through a major transformation. New innovations and advances in technology are turning Texas agriculture into a high tech business. The application of new equipment like global positioning systems, self-propelled machine operations and electronic data has changed the nature of the business. To maintain the leadership role in agriculture it is important for Texas producers to remain on the cutting edge of this new technology.
From the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, Texas is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. Agriculture is the state’s second largest industry and employs about one out of every seven working Texans. Eighty percent of the state’s land is in some form of agricultural production.
American farmers are working harder and are more efficient than ever before, and it shows. Today, each producer feeds more than 129 people. Agricultural crops are America’s top exports and are vitally important in sustaining a healthy economy.
And it’s not just the producer who makes our food possible. All aspects of the agriculture industry, all the way from the farm gate to the retail-clothing store and grocery store, are vital links in a chain that brings food and fiber to every citizen and millions of people abroad.
“It can be easy to take agriculture for granted in America because our food is readily accessible and safe,” Commissioner Staples said. “For this, we are extremely fortunate, and it gives us even more of a reason to recognize those who make it possible.”
The Texas Department of Agriculture has created a special National Agriculture Week page on its Web site with fun facts, a slide show and a quiz to test your Ag IQ. Go to www.agr.state.tx.us and look under “What’s New.”
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