News

Michigan herd confirmed bovine TB positive

A beef herd in Northern Michigan has been confirmed positive for bovine tuberculosis.

State veterinarian Nora Wineland says the National Veterinary Services Lab confirmed a herd in Alpena County positive for the disease this week.  Alpena County is in a Modified Accredited Zone where herds are routinely tested for bovine TB.

The herd will be quarantined while additional testing is done to help determine the strain of infection as well as trace investigations to identify any potential additional cases. 

This is the 80^th confirmed herd in the state and the third in the past 12-months within the zone.  If there are more than three TB-infected cattle herds identified within the zone during a 12-month period, the State of Michigan and USDA must enter discussions on the issue which could result in changes to the TB program requirements or to the status or boundaries.

New bovine tuberculosis quotas have recently been set to test deer in Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Otsego, Crawford, Roscommon, Ogemaw, and Iosco, the seven counties outside the Modified Accredited Zone.  Hunters in the sampling areas are encouraged to submit their deer heads for TB testing.