CWD Testing

– GRANTED THROUGH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT’S ANIMAL INDUSTRY DIVISION

By: Gail Veley

In an effort to increase the knowledge and understanding of the genetics of privately-owned whitetail herds and their susceptibility to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Animal Industry Division (AID) offered a grant opportunity for CWD herd testing to interested whitetail deer farmers last fall. This April, when Round One is completed, should funding still allow, grant opportunities may once again be available, according to information provided by State Veterinarian and AID Division Director Dr. Nora Wineland. Questions regarding application forms can be directed to MDARD-Cervid@Michigan.gov.

As of last year’s November 15th, 2021 deadline, six farms had signed up to participate. “These numbers are encouraging given this was offered during one of the busiest times of the year for producers,” Dr. Wineland said. “To allow for additional farms to participate, we extended the deadline and are reaching out to producers to encourage more participation.” Participating farms have until April 18th, 2022, to submit tissue samples and are only responsible for purchasing tissue tubes, collecting and shipping samples. The remainder of the process is free-of-charge.

MDARD was awarded approximately $150,000 in cooperative agreement funding for CWD testing from The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In light of the attention given to farmed cervid CWD management and response activities, it was a welcomed and significant step to conduct genomic analysis with an end goal to reduce the susceptibility of CWD in Michigan’s privately-owned whitetail deer, Dr. Wineland explained. Privately owned cervid farms with whitetail deer enrolled in the USDA’s CWD Herd Certification Program are eligible to test 18 deer within the herd. Herds that do not participate in the program will be eligible to test nine deer. All participating farms are also required to be licensed as a full breeding facility under the Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act. Vast research through the years by professionals within the whitetail deer industry, has demonstrated that genomic prediction, coupled with selective breeding, can reduce whitetail deer susceptibility to CWD. “MDARD’s Animal Industry Division would very much like to work with breeding facilities to perform genetic predictions in Michigan farmed whitetails,” Dr. Wineland said. The CWD testing itself will be done at the North American Deer Registry (NADR). Producers do not need to be members of NADR to participate in this grant opportunity. “At the conclusion of testing, producers will receive genomicallyestimated breeding values for differential susceptibility to CWD and direct guidance on selective breeding for reduced susceptibility,” Dr. Wineland said. Should a deer selected for testing die, become harvested or sold, a tissue sample must still be submitted, however, participants must give the MDARD permission to share the results with the NADR.

Keeping UDFoM members informed about news such as this, routinely falls on the shoulders of UDFoM Legislative Chair Gina Bozzer, an attorney by trade for the past 22 years. Bozzer maintains a close and committed relationship with Karoub and Associates in Lansing, Michigan, the lobbying firm responsible for keeping UDFoM members apprised of the latest happenings within Michigan legislative branches. “We also have a separate legislative sub-committee that participates in meetings such as those at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources or Department of AG in an effort to keep our pulse on what is happening,” Bozzer said. A portion of funds raised at UDFoM auctions pays for the ongoing work of Karoub and Associates. “We are very grateful for that,” she said. “We are also grateful for our very strong and dedicated membership base, and for those who attend our events.”