Posted: Sunday, January 15, 2006 12:00 am
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho officially lost its brucellosis-free status on Friday, forcing livestock producers to have cattle undergo more testing before the animals may be shipped out of state.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture bumped the state to a so-called "class A" status following the discovery of the livestock disease in a Swan Valley cattle herd. Brucellosis can lead to spontaneous abortions, infertility, decreased milk production and weight loss in cattle, elk, bison and other mammals. It is rarely transmitted to humans.
"We have already begun the process of working toward regaining our brucellosis-free designation," Pat Takasugi, the director of Idaho's Department of Agriculture, said in a statement. "The cattle industry and the department are partners in this effort, and we are working cooperatively toward this end."
Idaho has had brucellosis-free status since 1991. The new status means that cattle not going directly to slaughter will have to undergo increased testing before they may cross state lines.
Lloyd Knight, the executive director of the Idaho Cattle Association, said cattle producers would work together with federal and state agencies so that the state could reapply for brucellosis-free status in December.