Minnesota Bovine Tuberculosis

[Anonymous-0]

I haven't been following this very closely, but my girlfriend said they cut cattle prices in Minnesota because of the danger of TB way up in the NW corner of the state. She's upset 'cause it'll awfully tough to make things go with $.80 beef. This doesn't make any amount of sense to me. Can anyone shed some light on it?

 

[rrlund]

We've been battling that problem here in Michigan for years. That's the first that I've heard of it in Minnesota. The U.P. of Michigan is a TB free zone.If there is a problem in Minnesota,BELIEVE ME,your Dept of Ag WILL let you know. The thing is here,they have to be tagged for movement. We tested every cow in the stste several years ago. That was a pain in the a$$,but now,only cattle in the infected areas have to be tested on a regular basis. Moving them to another state for breeding purposes was a problem for a while,but I think it's kind'a blown over. The advice that the vet gave me was call the Dept of Ag in the state where you want to send them and see if they will take them. As far as feeder cattle go,you're OK as long as they are going to a terminal feedlot. In other words,when they leave that lot,they will be going for slaughter.

 

[paul]

Yea, MN has been getting a case or 2 over the past 3 years, think from the deer, in one area. This last one found a month or 2 ago tipped us over the limit, we have stricter controls now.

Really would affect breeding stock or shipping live animals to other states, think for slaughter isn't such a big deal, but any reason to lower the prices paid, I'm sure it makes some difference.

--->Paul

 

[JMS MN]

One or two ranches NW of her, it has been determined that they have TB- figure it came from deer transmission. Herds were de-populated. MN has been free of TB for decades- now State is talking about getting a split determination- southern area would still be declared free of the disease. Deer transmission would be more common in her area. MN is 400 miles north to south- northern area is more wooded, more deer, etc. Loss of TB-free status would affect the entire state. TB was a major cattle disease into the mid 50s. I remember when my parent"s dairy herd was tested, like everyone else"s.

 

[rrlund]

Oh man,you guys are in for a nightmare if they don't let you wholesale slaughter deer RIGHT NOW! That's what happened here. The PC Police wouldn't allow them to be wipped out,now we've been dealing with it for years. It was pretty well contained in the northeastern corner of the lower penninsula for years,but this past fall they found two deer outside the area that had it,now every cow over 24 months I think it is,could be 18,within 10 miles of where they were found,have to be tested again. I told them last time that that was it for me,if I ever had to be tested again,I would beef them all. As far as lowering the value,I think it did at first. Like I said,breeding stock,it will to some extent. Feeders,not so much.

 

[Allan in NE]

Yep,

Remember when they put that metal "clamp" in their ear with the registered/certified number?

Dern, haven't thought about that in years.

Allan

 

[Dave from MN]

DNR has had sharp shooter and open extra season in the TB zones the last 2 years. Deer #'s are dwindling there but they want them all down. PC's have lost every battle so far. Some deer hunters complaining bought there area being depoulated but they need to understand the big picture if it spreads

 

[Spook]

The DNR keeps the deer herd up as a sop to the hunters, the vast majority of who don't own any land. The deer herds are a "public" resource supported by private landowners. Everytime the farmer's try to take the herd down, the hunter groups go nuts. One farmer in Livingston county got fined for shooting deer without a permit - after the DNR denied him a block permit. He even got threats from hunters after it was found that he had shot about 100 deer, and let them rot. He said he just got tired of feeding them.

 

[NBAllen]

Allan,

Is that similar to the Bangs tag that is still in use?

Nathaniel

 

[730 virgil]

about 3 maybe 4 years ago i tried to buy a bull in Michigan. what a headache.
the local vet finally said virgil it ain't worth the headache for either of us to get that bull here.
if i remember right whole herd had to test clean 120? days before bull left farm then he had to be quarantined for a while then tested again.
i think he had to be quarantined again in illinois before i could get him to my farm.
to get a bull from wisconsin is no problem mostly paper work.