News

Second bovine TB herd identified in Indiana

A second herd of beef cattle has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis.  The Indiana State Board of Animal Health says the herd is within the existing 10-mile surveillance zone and no new herds need to be tested as a result of the finding.  The animals in the infected herd have been placed under quarantine.

The first TB-positive herd was identified in April and a TB positive white-tailed deer was also found on the index farm.  As of last week 335 herds, totaling more than 5,000 head of cattle in the surveillance zone have been tested.  Thirty-five more herds will need to be tested by the end of the year to meet the department’s goal.

Although the cattle testing is nearing completion, wild deer surveillance will continue per Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources.

Under a federal order issued in 2010, Indiana will not lose its TB-free status, but BOAH must submit its TB plan to the USDA by mid-February.