ISDA Brucellosis Program Update

Federalism Subcommittee on Federal Lands

Malad, IdahoNovember 22, 2019

Bill Barton, DVMAdministrator/State Veterinarian

Brucellosis

• Brucellosis is a bacterial disease causing abortion and infertility in livestock with potential for human infection

• USDA initiated the National Brucellosis Eradication program in 1954• Significant negative economic effects can result from herd infection• Considered eradicated from U.S. livestock herds in 2009• Only known reservoir of the disease in the U.S. is infected wildlife in

and around the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA)• Idaho regained USDA Brucellosis Class Free status in 2007 and

remains Class Free to date• ISDA, IDF&G and Idaho’s Cattle Industry continue to work

cooperatively to maintain USDA Class Free status• Class Free status is critical to marketability as it allows interstate

movement of cattle from a class free state without brucellosis testing requirements.

IDAHO RULES GOVERNING BRUCELLOSISIDAPA 02.04.20

• All female cattle and domestic bison utilized for breeding, dairy, or grazing purposes must be officially vaccinated for brucellosis.

• Female cattle and domestic bison that have not been officially vaccinatedfor brucellosis may only be fed for slaughter in an Idaho approvedfeedlot, with no provisions for pasturing and grazing.

• All cattle, domestic bison, and domestic cervidae animals and herds thathave feed-line or other contact, during winter months, with wild elk thathave been determined to be affected with brucellosis, such thattransmission of brucellosis could occur, shall be considered exposed tobrucellosis.

• As a result of 2011 Federal program changes, GYA states are required toidentify/maintain a Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) for enhancedbrucellosis surveillance and mitigation activities

DESIGNATED SURVEILLANCE AREA (DSA)

All intact cattle and domestic bison within the DSA, are subject by rule to additional requirements for the surveillance, prevention and eradication of brucellosis.• Individual official identification- Required for all intact animals, regardless of age,

that leave the DSA.• Test Eligibility- All intact cattle over 18 months of age that have been located

within the DSA at any time between January 1 and June 15 of any calendar year.• Test Requirements- All test eligible cattle within the DSA must have a negative

brucellosis test within thirty (30) days prior to a change of ownership, interstate movement or prior to leaving the DSA, except those animals moving directly to an approved Idaho livestock market or a federally inspected slaughter plant that will test for brucellosis on arrival.

• 14,496 hd. tested to date in 2019.• Movement permits- All persons transporting test eligible cattle from within the

DSA to a location outside the DSA, must, by rule, obtain a movement permit from the ISDA at least 24 hours prior to movement.

Idaho’s DSA is comprised of the following:All of Fremont CountyAll of Teton CountyBonneville County north of Hwy 26 and Palisades Reservoir, then southwest along McCoy Creek/McCoy Creek Road to the mouth of Fish Creek. Then following a straight line from Fish Creek directly to the intersection of Hwy 34/40 and the mouth of the South Fork of Tincup Creek at the beginning of Forest Service Trail 014 in Caribou County. Then following Trail 014 south to the Stump Creek Road, then following Stump Creek Road south and east to the Idaho-Wyoming border.

Idaho’s DSA is significantly smaller in area than the other Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) states of Montana and Wyoming

IDAHO AFFECTED HERDS since 20022002- AshtonElk were fed with cattle.

2005- Swan ValleyWinter migration route for elk

- trace-out to a second herd resulted in a downgrade to Class A Status.

2009- RigbyHerd put together with cattle out of SwanValley/Rainey Creek

2012- Lemon LakeCattle turned out with elk still calving

2012- Swan ValleyElk from Rainey Creek jumped the fence into a bison enclosure.

2017- TetoniaOne reactor/600 head during annual certification. Elk exposure was thecause.

Risk Mitigation Strategies

• Mandatory official calf hood brucellosis vaccination• Imported cattle must be brucellosis vaccinates unless going to an

approved feedlot to be fed to slaughter only• Voluntary brucellosis herd management plans for all herds in designated

surveillance area• Surveillance testing

• Intact cattle 18 months of age and older must be tested within 30 days prior to change of ownership or movement out of the DSA. Surveillance testing costs paid with USDA cooperative funding

• Maintain strict separation of elk/cattle• Require whole herd test if known elk/cattle interaction occurs• Adult brucellosis booster vaccination

• Based on risk assessment

Preventing Elk/Cattle Interaction• Continue fencing haystacks and winter feeding

enclosures within the DSA and at sites within the buffer area where wild elk are known to congregate during the winter

• Maintain physical/temporal separation of cattle and wildlife during high risk period

• IDF&G conducts sampling of wild elk to determine brucellosis seroprevalence

• Ensures the DSA boundary is identified appropriately

• ISDA, IDF&G and USDA annual Brucellosis Coordination Meeting

• Enforce Private Feeding of Big Game rules• IDAPA 02.04.25

DSA HERD MANAGEMENT PLANS• Estimated Idaho Adult Cattle Population: 1,150,000 hd. (NASS)• DSA Resident Cattle: 19,576 hd.• Seasonal DSA Grazers: 16,202 hd.• Known DSA Production Facilities: 194• Voluntary herd plans: 136• No herd plan on file: 58• Herd plans consist of information about:

• Cattle inventory• Vaccination history/need for adult boosters• Calving data• Elk/Cattle interactions, proximity of elk• Seasonal grazing movements• Elk fencing needs• Marketing information

Brucellosis Program Objectives

• Prevent transmission of brucellosis from infected wildlife (elk & bison) in and around the GYA to Idaho cattle herds.

• Maintain economic viability of cattle producers by minimizing the risk of contracting brucellosis infection.

• Maintain unrestricted market access for Idaho cattle producers by re-assuring our trading partner states that our risk of exposure to infected wildlife is minimized and that the cattle we export are free of brucellosis.

• Only 3% of Idaho’s cattle population utilize the DSA however our program protects the marketability of Idaho cattle statewide.

Questions??

Bill Barton, DVMAdministrator/State Veterinarian

208-332-8540bill.barton@isda.idaho.gov