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DECEMBER 2, 2020
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Alpena County beef herd confirmed TB positive
Recent discovery marks the third TB-infected cattle herd to be identified in the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) in the previous 12 months. Under a USDA MOU, if there are more than three TB-infected cattle herds identified within the MAZ during a 12-month period, then the State of Michigan and USDA must re-enter discussions on next steps. Photo courtesy of OSU Extension LANSING, MI -- State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM, has confirmed the dis-
covery of another bovine tuberculosis positive beef herd in Alpena County, making it
Michigan’s 80th cattle herd to be identified with bovine TB since 1998. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the presence of the disease in one of the animals from the herd on Nov. 10. “Bovine TB was recently confirmed to be present in an Alpena County beef herd, located in Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone,” Wineland said in a statement. “As with all new findings of bovine TB in a cattle herd, additional testing will be done in the herd, and an epidemiologic investigation has been started to rule out the possibility of additional cases stemming from the affected herd.” Bovine TB, a bacterial disease that can affect all mammals, including humans, is known to be present in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in specific areas of northeastern lower Michigan. The disease can be transmitted between deer and cattle. While state and federal agencies are taking significant steps to manage the disease, the continued hunting of deer in this area is
an important tool in maintaining a healthy deer population, according to Wineland. More importantly, according to Wineland, the discovery marks the third TB-infected cattle herd to be identified in the Modified Accredited Zone in the previous 12 months. “Under a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, if there are more than three TB-infected cattle herds identified within the MAZ during a 12-month period, then the State of Michigan and USDA must enter discussions on the issue,” Wineland said. Those discussions could result in changes being made to the TB program requirements or to the status or boundaries of the MAZ in northeast Michigan. “This finding underscores the need for cattle producers to work to protect their herds from TB, and that the continued collaboration of producers and deer hunters is vital to reduce deer numbers and deer pressure in order to better control the disease,” Wineland said. Source: Michigan Farm Bureau
‘Imperative’ to meet deer-testing quota by Dec. 31 to maintain TB status
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Deer hunters in a dozen northern Lower Peninsula counties are urged to turn in the heads of harvested deer to an MDNR check station or drop box for bovine tuberculosis testing this hunting season. If testing quotas aren’t met by year’s end, the USDA could reevaluate the entire state’s TB status, imperiling Michigan’s beef and dairy farmers. “The new memorandum of understanding between USDA and Michigan requires a
significant number of deer heads to be turned in for TB testing in the Modified Accredited Zone and surrounding counties,” said Ernie Birchmeier, MFB’s dairy and livestock specialist. “It is imperative that we all collaborate to achieve those goals. “Failure to meet the requirements could cause USDA to reevaluate the TB status of the entire state of Michigan. Lowering the state’s status could lead to additional testing requirements statewide, which would be a significant challenge for our beef and dairy farmers.” While more than 2,000 animals across the Northeastern region of the state had been tested as of Nov. 20 (current numbers are available online), it's significantly under the MOU testing requirements. Per the MOU, signed this past February, MDNR is required to conduct active surveillance for bovine TB in free-ranging whitetailed deer. Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), which includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties, is required to test 2,800 deer annually. As of Nov. 20, only 1,220 deer — just 43.6% of the number required — had been tested collectively in the MAZ. New annual testing quotas are also required for the seven counties surrounding the MAZ including 500 free-ranging deer in Presque Isle County, and 300 each in Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Otsego and Roscommon for a combined total of 2,300 deer. Thus far only 798 deer had been tested in those counties — less than 35% of the number required in the USDA/MDARD agreement. “It’s imperative we hit those testing quo-
ta numbers,” Birchmeier said. “Harvesting a large number of deer and getting the heads tested for TB can help reduce the overall population in areas that have a significant number of deer and we can help to prove to USDA that we are containing the disease and working to eliminate it.” “Sixty percent of deer that test positive show no signs of the disease, so testing is important,” said Emily Sewell, DNR wildlife health specialist. “It’s important that hunters take precautions like wearing latex or rubber gloves when field dressing. If they notice any lesions on the lungs or in the chest cavity, they should avoid cutting into the lesions and bring the deer to a check station.” Check station and drop box locations are listed below and online at Michigan.gov/ DeerCheck. For more information visit Michigan. gov/BovineTB or contact Sewell or Birchmeier directly. DNR Drop Box Locations • Alanson — Oden Hatchery Visitor Center; 24-hour drop box; 3377 Oden Road, Alanson; 989-732-3541 ext. 5031 • Alpena Field Office — check station, 24-hour drop box; 4343 M-32 West, Alpena; 989-785-4251 ext. 5233 • Atlanta Field Office — check Station, 24-hour drop box; 13501 M-33, Atlanta; 989-785-4251 ext. 5233 • Cheboygan Field Office — 24-hour drop box120 A Street, Cheboygan; 989-7323541 ext. 5031 • Curran BP Gas Station — check station; M-65 & M-72, Curran; 989-348-6371 ext. 7477 • East Tawas State Harbor Dock — check station; 113 Newman St., Hwy. US-
23, East Tawas; 989-275-5151 ext. 2039 • Gaylord Customer Service Center — check station, 24-hour drop box; 1732 West M-32, Gaylord; 989-732-3541 • Grayling Field Office — check station, 24-hour drop box; 1955 Hartwick Pines Road, Grayling; 989-348-6371 ext. 7477 • Hale — Alward’s Market, 118 S. Washington St., Hale; 989-728-2315 • Hillman BP Gas Station — 24-hour drop box; 27400 M-32 West, Hillman; 989785-4251 ext. 5233 • Indian River Field Office — 24-hour drop box; 6984 Wilson Road, Indian River; 989-732-3541 ext. 5031 • Lincoln Field Office — check station; 408 Main Street, Lincoln; 989-736-8336 • Lupton — Rifle River Recreation Area; check station; 2550 E. Rose City Road, Lupton; 989-473-2258 • Mio DNR Field Office — check station, 24-hour drop box; 191 S. Mt. Tom Road, Mio; 989-275-5151 ext. 2722030 • Onaway Check Station — Tom’s IGA, 20597 State St., Onaway; 989-785-4251 ext. 5233 • Posen Check Station — behind Huron Oil Co., 10941 Michigan Ave., Posen; 989785-4251 ext. 5233 • Rogers City — Adrian’s Sport Shop; 24-hour drop box; 335 N. Bradley Hwy., Rogers City, 989-785-4251 ext. 5233 • Roscommon Customer Service Center — check station, 24-hour drop box; 8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon; 989-2755151 ext. 2722039 • West Branch Field Office — check station; 410 N. Fairview Road, West Branch; 989-345-0472 Source: Michigan Farm Bureau
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