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Emergency action allows further study of connections between known CWD-positive farms and possible additional exposures.

October 18, 2021

2 Min Read
deer in pasture
MOVEMENT BAN: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources temporary ban on movement of farmed white-tailed deer is in response to chronic wasting disease (CWD) found in some farm herds.KGrif/Getty Images

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued an emergency rule Oct. 11 that temporarily prohibits the importation and movement of farmed white-tailed deer into and within Minnesota.

The emergency action aims to reduce further spread of chronic wasting disease and protect the health of Minnesota’s wild deer. The DNR said the temporary ban will allow the agency to determine previous movements of known CWD-exposed deer and potential additional exposures.

The DNR will work with the Board of Animal Health on the effort, with which it shares concurrent authority to regulate farmed white-tailed deer.

The DNR asks for the full support and cooperation of the farmed deer community.

The DNR is taking this action in response to the discovery that a CWD-positive farm in Wisconsin shipped 387 farmed white-tailed deer to farms in seven states, including Minnesota. Three farms in Minnesota ultimately received a total of five deer from the infected farm.

The temporary movement ban will provide time to track the movement of deer from the infected farm and understand the potential risk to other herds. The epidemiological investigations will show connections among known CWD-exposed herds, identify if there were additional exposed herds and prevent additional transfer from potentially exposed herds. The rule provides exemptions for deer being transported to slaughter and those being transported on a direct route through the state.

On Sept. 27, the DNR learned that three Minnesota farms had received five white-tailed deer from the infected Wisconsin farm. Two of those deer went to farms that no longer are in business, and the two animals subsequently were moved back to farms in Wisconsin.

The other three deer were moved to a farm in Minnesota that is currently active. Two of those deer were killed and tested; they did not test positive for CWD. The third deer was alive as of Oct. 11, and the owner was awaiting payment prior to making the animal available for testing. The farm where this animal lives is currently under quarantine.

Source: Minnesota DNR, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

 

 

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