News

TB confirmed in West Michigan

The Michigan Department of Agriculture has confirmed a two year old steer from Newago County positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) after inspection during processing.

The department says the Newago Country farm that sent the steer to slaughter has been identified using the animal’s radio frequency identification. Through genome sequencing, officials have determined the steer was most likely exposed to white-tail deer in northeastern Lower Michigan with the disease. Farms within a three-mile surveillance area will be tested for bovine TB.

Beef and dairy cattle producers are invited to a meeting in Grant March 27th to learn how the discovery might impact their farms. Bovine TB is an infectious bacterial disease affecting cattle and white-tailed deer that can affect the lungs, lymph nodes, and other parts of the body.