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October 20, 2000

Louisiana earns brucellosis 'free' status

Louisiana recently earned the Class "Free" designation, becoming the 45th state to wipe out cattle brucellosis. This leaves only Texas, South Dakota, Florida and Missouri cleaning up the last vestiges in this national eradication effort that spans five decades.

"We're also seeing light at the end of the tunnel, as Texas has only two herds under quarantine today. One is in Orange County and the other is in Live Oak County," said Dr. Max Coats, head of animal health programs for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

He predicted however, that it could take at least a year or two to find and wipe out the last infected herds. Since January, he said, six infected herds in Texas have been found and most have been sent to slaughter after being "bought out" with a combination of state and federal funds. In 1999, 21 infected herds were detected in Texas, and 18 herds were "bought out."

Coats pointed out that only two states still have quarantined herds: South Dakota, which has a privately owned bison herd under quarantine, and Texas. Florida, Oklahoma and Missouri have no herds under quarantine and are fulfilling the 12-month waiting period before earning the USDA's "free" designation.

If an infected herd is detected during this period, the 12-month "clock" starts again, Coats said. Unless they originate in a certified brucellosis-free herd, adult cattle are tested for the disease before being sold through livestock markets, at slaughter, or prior to being moved out of state to a ranch or for sale. TAHC regulations also require cattle to be tested prior to being sold or traded by private treaty. Private practitioners may have diagnostic tests performed for brucellosis when cows abort.

"The brucellosis eradication program has not been easy for cattle producers. In the early 1950s, Texas had at least 20,000 brucellosis-infected herds, and through the years, many producers have lost valuable animals and genetics when infected animals were sent to slaughter. We are close to the finish line because of the hard work and sacrifices of producers and private veterinary practitioners who have worked with state and federal regulatory veterinarians," Coats said.