April 10, 2008

USDA lowers Minnesota's bovine TB status

The USDA has downgraded Minnesota's bovine tuberculosis status to Modified Accredited.

This means live cattle will require testing, import permits and quarantine on arrival unless the animals are going directly to slaughter.

Five herds in two northern Minnesota counties were found to have been infected by bovine TB in 2005, lowering the state's status from the highest Accredited Free to Modified Accredited Advanced.

Then in October 2007, four more herds were infected along with 17 wild deer, forcing the USDA to downgrade Minnesota's status one more level.

Negotiations are under way to obtain Split-State status in Minnesota, which would isolate the two northern Minnesota counties and let the rest of the state to regain a higher status.