Situation in Michigan
In 1975 and 1994, bovine TB was discovered in white-tailed deer in the NE corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It was decided by state and federal regulatory officials to test cattle and deer in the areas where the infected deer were found. In June 1998, bovine TB was diagnosed in a beef cow in Alpena County. Since then, the disease has been diagnosed in multiple beef and dairy herds in northern lower Michigan, in numerous privately-owned wild deer and in wild carnivores. As a result, a statewide effort was initiated to eradicate bovine TB in livestock and a statewide livestock surveillance program was undertaken.
As a result of the recognized need to initiate and conduct an eradication program, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began testing in the 5-county area in 1995. Statewide testing began on June 22, 2000 after USDA changed Michigan’s TB status to Modified Accredited.
All Michigan dairies were bovine TB tested by the end of June 2001 because of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). An amendment to the PMO was signed in the summer of 2001. The administrative Memo of Understanding between MDA and USDA was also signed this summer. The Cooperative Agreement was signed in September 2001, allocating funds for the electronic identification program.
Definition and USAHA Report
Bovine Tuberculosis is a respiratory disease that cattle can contract, along with other domesticated and wild livestock. While it has largely been eradicated from U.S. dairy and beef herds, sporadic outbreaks do occur. One outbreak occurred in Michigan, where the disease had been spread by wild deer to commercial beef and dairy herds in the Northeast corner of the state.
