July 10, 2009
USDA reinstates Montana's brucellosis class free status
The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reinstated Montana's Brucellosis Class Free status, opening the way for easier shipments of cattle out of the state.
The Montana Department of Livestock made the announcement in a release Thursday (July 9).
Montana had been brucellosis-free since 1985, but the state's Class Free Status was downgraded in September of 2008 after the serious bacterial disease was found twice in a 13-month span, MDOL said in its release. In order for a state to attain and keep its Class Free Status, all cattle herds within the state must remain brucellosis-free for 12 consecutive months.
MDOL responded to the downgrade by forming a work group that included producers, veterinarians, market operators and industry organizations to develop a plan for regaining Class Free Status. The state's Brucellosis Action Plan was officially implemented on May 15, 2009.
State veterinarian Marty Zaluski said in the release that the action plan will remain in place for six months as "an assurance to our trading partners."
The USDA has four classifications for brucellosis: Class Free, Class A, Class B and Class C. Restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves Class Free status.
