LANSING, Mich. — Bovine tuberculosis was recently confirmed in samples taken from a two year old steer from Huron County, Michigan.
The animal was identified as possibly diseased and removed from the human food chain by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service, who inspects each animal during processing.
Using the steer’s radio frequency identification, MDARD rapidly identified the farm in Huron County that sent the animal to slaughter. Also included in the animal’s record, were two prior farms in Presque Isle County where the animal was located.
The identified farms will be tested to ensure the disease is not present.
“Cattle properly identified with RFID can be traced in minutes,” said Rick Smith, assistant state veterinarian. “Not only can we find the most recent owner, we can successfully track where the animal has moved, allowing us to stamp out disease before it spreads.”
Farms tested
In addition to the Presque Isle County farms being tested, a three-mile surveillance area has been established around the affected farm in Huron County.
Farms within the special surveillance area will have six months to complete bovine TB testing. These farms will be identified by MDARD and notified through individual letters.
An informational meeting to discuss this finding of bovine TB and the surveillance area is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2016 at 7 p.m., at the Breakfast Room of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 55 Rapson Lane West, Bad Axe, Michigan.
