A recently completed report on Montana’s brucellosis management plan (BMP) says the state is being proactive and responsive in its efforts to identify occurrences of the disease and prevent its spread in livestock and wildlife within and from the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA).
Conducted by USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Services, the report was issued after a comprehensive review of brucellosis management plans in the three Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) states (Montana, Idaho and Wyoming). The goal was determining if state BMPs are effective and if states are following plans outlined in agreements with APHIS.
According to state veterinarian Dr. Mary Zaluski, the report contains several commendations for Montana’s BMP.
“Overall, our review went very well and we’re pleased with the outcome,” Zaluski said. “The report will help show other states that we’re aggressively managing brucellosis, and that will help protect the marketability of Montana’s billion-dollar a year livestock industry.”
Key strengths of the program, according to the report, include:
· Staff positions dedicated solely to the brucellosis program;
· Proactive adjustments to the state’s DSA boundaries;
· Implementation of electronic brands software that strengthens the current brands system and allows for animal identification and tracking;
· Wildlife surveillance activities include the multi-year elk capture-and-test project;
· Testing and surveillance requirements for domestic cattle and bison within the DSA;
· The use of individual herd plans for herds within the DSA.
Zaluski pointed out that the report also made some recommendations for Montana’s program. Those include increasing the number of herds using herd management plans, increasing surveillance on slaughter cattle from the DSA, continuing wildlife surveillance activities, and continuing/expanding producer outreach and education.
“While there is always room for improvement, the USDA basically said we’re doing a good job,” Zaluksi said.
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