Parts of Michigan Designated “Potential High-Risk Area” for Bovine TB
Officials in Michigan have designated parts of the northern region of the state as a “Potential High-Risk Area” for bovine tuberculosis.
On April 12, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development the designation was made for parts of Iosco and Ogemaw counties.
These designations follow the confirmation of a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Alcona County testing positive for bovine TB. The case was confirmed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Whenever a deer tests positive, all cattle or bison herds located within a 15-mile radius of the deer must be tested for bovine TB within six months. The required testing excludes counties where annual testing already occurs, like Alcona County.
Testing of cattle and bison ensures that bovine TB has not spread from deer to cattle or bison, helping protect not only the Michigan cattle herd but the national herd.
The radius includes the following township sections in Iosco and Ogemaw counties:
Iosco County, Oscoda Township
T24N R6E sections 1-34
T24N R7E sections 4-9 and 17-19
Iosco County, Plainfield Township
T24N R5E sections 1-36
T23N R5E sections 1-6
T23N R6E sections 5-6
Ogemaw County, Rose Township
T24N R3E sections 1-17, 21-27, and 36
Ogemaw County, Goodar Township
T24N R4E sections 1-36
Ogemaw County, Hill Township
T23N R4E sections 1-5
Cattle or bison owners in those township sections will be contacted by MDARD to schedule testing.
There will also be an information meeting held to discuss testing and the “Potential High-Risk Area” designation. Details are as follows:
Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
Rose Township Hall
3380 Lupton Rd., Lupton, MI 48635
Cattle or bison herd owners in these township sections who have questions about testing can contact MDARD’s Atlanta Office at 888-565-8626.
Michigan’s Bovine TB Status
While a deer was recently identified as being a positive bovine TB carrier, there has also been a cattle herd identified in the past year in Michigan. On Oct. 9, a large beef cattle herd in Alcona County was confirmed to have bovine TB. This was the 73rd time since 1998 a cattle herd in Michigan had been identified as having bovine TB.
Here is a breakdown on the statics for white-tailed deer TB testing:
2018 White-tailed Deer TB Testing As of February 22, 2019
Zone
Goal
Total Tested
4-county area
2800
3277
7 surrounding counties
1500
2002
Lake 10-mile circle
300
550
Newaygo 3-mile circle
30
312
Ottawa10-mile circle
300
311
Kalamazoo 10-mile circle
300
164
Totals
5230
6616
Tested in Remainder of State
28962
Statewide Total
35578
County Name
Total Tested
Number Positive
Alcona
954
11
Alpena
1184
10
Cheboygan
159
0
Crawford
152
0
Iosco
240
0
Montmorency
715
1
Ogemaw
308
0
Oscoda
424
4
Otsego
209
0
Presque Isle
577
0
Roscommon
357
0
Total to date
5279
26
Wyatt Bechtel
Tue, 04/16/2019 – 10:41
Category
Beef (General)
Dairy (General)
Veterinary (General)
Cattle
Herd Health
Diseases
Michigan
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Michigan
Diseases
Herd Health
Cattle
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Image Caption
Parts of Iosco and Ogemaw counties in Michigan have been designated by officials as a “Potential High-Risk Area” for bovine tuberculosis after a white-tailed deer in Alcona County tested positive for the disease.
Image Credit
Wyatt Bechtel
Source: Dairy Herd