Bovine tuberculosis was recently confirmed in an Alcona County herd when one of the animals was tested to be transported off the farm. The large beef herd is the 66th cattle herd in Michigan found with bovine TB since 1998.

In the Modified Accredited Zone, which encompasses Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties, testing before movement and annual surveillance testing is required of cattle producers. These testing precautions are designed to catch the disease in the very earliest stages and prevent the disease from spreading to other farms.

66th bovine positive cattle herd confirmed

Bovine TB is endemic in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in the MAZ and any shared contact between deer and cattle can be a potential source of infection.

"Finding bovine TB in a herd is always hard on the impacted farm and at this time we have not determined how this herd became infected," says Dr. Rick Smith, Assistant State Veterinarian.

Due to the location of the infected herd, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is establishing a special surveillance area which will involve a small number of herds in the northern portion of Iosco County. Producers who need to test will be notified by MDARD.

An informational meeting for cattle producers in Alcona and Iosco counties is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Curtis Township Hall, 4932 F-30, Glennie.

Bovine TB is an infectious bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle; however, it can be spread between wildlife populations and other mammals, including humans. In Michigan, all cattle must have electronic identification ear tags before they move from a farm which assists MDARD in tracing cattle movement in the event of a disease investigation.