DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today highlighted for Iowa cattle producers the fact that the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has declared Montana a brucellosis free state, which will make it easier for Iowa cattlemen to import animals from Montana.
Montana had lost its free status following the discovery of cattle herd infections in 2007 and 2008. Now that they are again in free status cattle can move from Montana into Iowa without the extensive testing that was previously required.
“Iowa imports a lot of cattle from Montana and this announcement will help Iowa cattlemen,” Northey said.
Iowa imported 159,899 feeder and breeder cattle from Montana in 2008, down from 193,927 in 2007.
Brucellosis is a contagious disease that affects both animals and humans. The disease mainly affects cattle, bison, and swine; however, goats, sheep, horses, and humans are susceptible as well.
In its principal animal hosts, it causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of weak offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. There is no economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in livestock. In humans, brucellosis initially causes flu-like symptoms, but the disease may develop into a variety of chronic conditions, including arthritis. Humans can be treated for brucellosis with antibiotics.
The brucellosis Class Free classification is based on a finding of no known brucellosis in cattle for the 12 months preceding classification as Class Free. The Class C classification is for States or areas with the highest rate of brucellosis. Class B and Class A fall between these two extremes. Restrictions on moving cattle interstate become less stringent as a State approaches or achieves Class Free status.
