July 25, 2006

Anthrax worries cast a cloud over US cattle farmers in South Dakota
 

Drought conditions in the US state of South Dakota has made the spread of  anthrax spores easier as animals are grazing closer to the ground and eating more dirt with the grass, where most of the spores are found.

Worried ranchers and state veterinarians said there could be an anthrax outbreak anytime and are watching the situation closely.

As the water lines in dams recede under the dry weather, more dormant spores may be activated from the exposed ground, which would make spores more infectious, veterinarians said.

At the same time, veterinarians are also calling on ranchers to vaccinate their cattle.

It only takes a first few cases of anthrax to make an epidemic possible as the bacteria spreads easily, veterinarians warned.

Although dozens of cases have been reported in the neigbouring state of Minnesota this year, South Dakota remains relatively unaffected. The state ranked fourth, behind Texas, Missouri and California in total calf crop in 2001, with 1.85 million head produced. The beef cattle industry ranks as the leading agricultural industry in South Dakota in terms of total cash receipts.