By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent LANSING, Mich. — State officials have announced five meetings this month regarding changes to Michigan’s bovine tuberculosis (TB) zoning order due to increased instances of TB in cattle herds. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will host the meetings in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for cattle producers in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties on the northeast side of the Lower Peninsula (L.P.). These areas are where bovine TB has always been the most problematic. The meetings will include presentations on the zoning order’s new proposed requirements, the Enhanced Wildlife Biosecurity Program and the current status of the deer herd in these counties. MDARD will hold two additional meetings in neighboring Presque Isle County, also on the northeast side of the L.P. The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss potential changes to the state’s Wildlife Risk Mitigation program and TB testing requirements. The current zoning order, effective as of June 7, 2016, created zones in the state for bovine TB and established requirements for testing, identification, certification and movement of cattle. Bovine TB primarily affects cattle; however, other animals may become infected. The disease can be transmitted between wildlife populations and animals raised as a food source. Bovine TB in animals may occur in the lungs, but may also occur in the intestines and other parts of the body. The order also defined the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), which includes all of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties. The latest legislative report on bovine TB, dated Jan. 5, contains updated information on recent finds of TB in cattle. As a result of the discovery of a bovine TB-positive whitetail deer found in Ogemaw County, circle testing of cattle in the area was conducted. There was no finding of disease, and the same thing was done in an area in Roscommon County due to an infected free ranging whitetail deer. No disease was found in cattle there, either. The report also provides information on the discovery of infected steer in several feedlots in the MAZ in 2016 and 2017. “Because there continues to be several infected herds annually in the MAZ, the TB program, in conjunction with the TB Advisory Committee, has been working on an Enhanced Wildlife Biosecurity Program that deals with the 132 herds located in the area with the most risk,” the report stated. It goes on to say officials from MDARD have been meeting with officials from USDA, and “the consensus is that the industry both in the MAZ, as well as statewide, cannot risk another spike in TB-positive herds like the one that occurred in 2016.” Officials sent a letter to 132 affected cattle producers in the MAZ in December and the state is planning on increasing its biosecurity measures to prevent TB-positive deer from infecting more cattle. Officials are proposing an Enhanced Wildlife Biosecurity Boundary, which would be in an area inside the MAZ where the most TB-positive finds have been. The state will pay 75 percent of certain costs for cattle producers to participate, said Rick Smith, assistant state veterinarian. Such costs could include fencing that would go around feed that needs more protection from deer, or fencing around pasture. Not all efforts would receive this match, however. “We’ve got like $1 million to help with this thing,” Smith said. “We’ve just got to get these guys to participate.” He explained 55 of the producers are already participating, while others have said they aren’t interested. They aren’t required to participate; however, if they don’t, they won’t be able to sell their cattle to other farms. Smith added that one more spike in TB-positive cattle could change the whole state’s bovine TB status. Because of this, it’s absolutely imperative not to have another spike, he said. Cattle producers need to decide if they will participate by April 1, and would have two years to complete the mitigation. The five meetings will be held at the following locations, dates and times: •Ossineke Township Hall, 9041 Nicholson Hill Rd., Hubbard Lake, MI 49747 on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. •Hillman Community Center, 24220 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Hillman, MI 49746 on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. •Elmer Township Hall, 863 W. Kittle Rd., Mio, MI 48647 on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. •Presque Isle District Library, 181 E. Erie St., Rogers City, MI 49779 on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. •Allis Township Hall, W. 638 Hwy., Onaway, MI 49765 on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. |
