Bovine TB may cost California's government US$60 million

A recent outbreak of bovine tuberculosis at three dairy herds in California may lead to a mass cull which would cost the government close to US$60 million.

The affected dairy farms were in Fresno and Tulare counties.

Agriculture Department officials will tour the farms before deciding whether to destroy the herds and compensate millions to farmers.

Affected herds can undergo a quarantine to determine the extent to which the herd was infected, which would only be known after several years or they can destroy the herd now and receive government payments.

With compensation at US$3,000 per animal, the three affected herds, totaling 19,900 animals, would cost the government US$59.7 million.