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LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials said that bovine tuberculosis had recently been confirmed in a large herd of cattle in Alcona County.
This is the 73rd herd of cattle to be identified with bovine tuberculosis in this state since 1998.
Bovine tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that has also infected white-tailed deer in some parts of the north-eastern peninsula.
Cattle from Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties must be tested before leaving the farm, which can help prevent the spread of the disease.
Nancy Barr, assistant veterinarian, said that farmers in this area should do everything in their power to prevent deer from contacting the feeding and livestock watering areas. .
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will hold meetings to discuss the latest discoveries on October 29 in Mio and November 1 at Hillman.
Here are some tips from the DNR Michigan website:
There are signs of bovine tuberculosis that hunters can observe when dressing a deer in the field.
- The lymph nodes of the animal's head are usually the first infected and, as the disease progresses, lesions may begin to develop on the surface of the lungs and chest cavity. In severely infected deer, lesions can sometimes be found throughout the body of the animal.
- Deer with severe tuberculosis may have yellow or tanned lumps lining the chest wall and lung tissue. Deer with this type of infection should be submitted to the DNR for laboratory testing.
- In the years following the discovery of bovine tuberculosis in wild white-tailed deer in Michigan, much has been learned about this contagious disease.
The DNR and other agencies working to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in our state are encouraging Michigan residents to learn about this disease and to do their best, as individuals and groups, to fight it.
For more information, click here.
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