Visit with a Vet: Six-Year Tuberculosis Test Eliminated

Originally published in the Nov. 27, 2013, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb in Atlanta, Ga.

In March 2013, I received a request from Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. to conduct a review of Georgia’s Whole Herd Tuberculosis Testing Program. This request was made because of several reasons: it has become increasingly difficult to locate veterinarians who will conduct whole-herd tuberculosis testing; the amount of labor involved; the veterinary fees for the testing; and the considerable financial loss for the dairy owner due to the disruption of the cattle’s daily routine.

In an effort to work with our dairy industry, I consulted with other state veterinarians concerning their state regulations for dairy tuberculosis testing, considered the Bovine Tuberculosis Free status of all 50 states; and determined that most states rely upon import testing and slaughter surveillance. The greatest risk of introduction of bovine tuberculosis comes from imports from Mexico, commingling of cattle with Mexican-origin animals and specific areas in the country where tuberculosis is endemic in the wildlife.

After careful review of slaughter surveillance records, tuberculosis import testing requirements and the fact that Georgia has been Bovine Tuberculosis Free since 1986, I wish to announce the elimination of the required six-year Whole Herd Tuberculosis Test for Georgia dairy producers.  The effective date of the change to Georgia Department of Agriculture Rule 40-13-4-.04 BovineTuberculosis Eradication Requirements is Oct. 7, 2013. 

I wish to emphasize that by eliminating the six-year tuberculosis test, our state and the dairy industry will depend wholly upon import tuberculosis testing and slaughter surveillance as a means of detecting tuberculosis in dairy animals. Individual official identification will greatly aid in disease control and prevention. I encourage all dairy producers to utilize official identification in all their dairy animals. Official metal ear tags can be obtained from the Department. Official electronic tags are encouraged and available at your vendor of choice. 

Although the required six-year tuberculosis herd test has been eliminated, the Department shall conduct tuberculosis tests on any dairy herd suspected of being infected with or exposed to Mycobacterium bovis at such times as deemed necessary by state or federal animal health officials. The Department’s animal health officials reserve the right to supervise and monitor any tuberculosis testing and the associated control and eradication activities.

For questions about the elimination of this tuberculosis testing, or to obtain official identification metal ear tags, contact the Department’s Animal Health Division at 404-656-3667.