Texas Soon To Be Only State
Pursuing Bangs-Free Status

AUSTIN — The Lone Star State could become the "lone" state where brucellosis is concerned, as more states declare victory over the long-fought cattle disease.

Within the past few weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Alabama, Georgia and Florida "Free" of the bacterial disease that producers, veterinarians and regulatory agencies have battled for more than 50 years. The newly decreed Class "Free" states bring to 44 the number of states that have wiped out brucellosis, which can cause cows to abort, deliver weak calves, or produce less milk.

Four other states, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma, have no infection and are due to earn the "Free" status by December.

"Texas and South Dakota are the last states fighting infection," says Dr. Terry Beals, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state's regulatory agency for livestock health.

"As of May l, Texas had seven cattle herds under quarantine, and South Dakota had a privately owned bison herd quarantined. That's too many, considering the U.S. has a goal of zero infected herds by year's end 1998."

Beals notes that, despite the continuing battle against infection, Texas made history in March, when no new herds were put under quarantine. "That's the first month in 50 years that we didn't find at least one new infected herd," he says.

"Today, with the incidence of brucellosis infection so low, we rarely see an infected herd that shows signs of the disease, such as abortions or weak calves. These days, it's not unusual to find only one or two infected animals in the herd," he says. "I still believe that there are several undetected cases of brucellosis lingering among Texas' 149,000 herds."

Continued and intensified surveillance is the key to "case-finding" the last infected herd, the prerequisite to wiping out the disease, Beals explains. Each year, the staff at Texas' state-federal laboratory runs confirmation tests on nearly two and a half million blood and milk samples collected from adult cattle at livestock markets, dairies or private sale, and on blood and tissue samples collected at slaughter plants.

Recent regulatory changes by the 12 TAHC commissioners make cattle test-eligible for brucellosis at 18 months of age. Animals that have shed their central deciduous incisor teeth will be considered to be at least 18 months of age and are test-eligible.

Previously, the testing age for cattle depended on the animal's breed (dairy or beef) and their brucellosis vaccination status. Because RB-51, the brucellosis vaccine now in use, does not react with blood tests, heifers now can be vaccinated up to 12 months of age and tested as young as 18 months old. This year, cattle producers had about 30 percent of Texas' heifers vaccinated with RB-51.

Recently, the TAHC commissioners also dropped the "yellow dot" provision, so called because the animals in question were marked on the hip with yellow paint. The provision allowed beef cattle vaccinated with the old Strain 19 brucellosis vaccine to move within the state if they tested positive on the "card" test at the livestock market but negative to the more specific "CITE" test.

These vaccinated cattle now are classified as "suspects" for brucellosis and can be returned to their ranch of origin, sent to slaughter, a quarantined feedlot, or a designated pen. The "yellow dot" provision remains in effect for dairy cattle.

When herd infection is detected, the cattle are quarantined. The owner is offered a buy-out plan composed of state and federal indemnity funds plus slaughter value. Depopulating infected herds by sending the animals to slaughter can be cheaper than repeatedly testing the herd and removing infected animals, Beals notes.

He points out that a depopulated herd also is removed from the infected herd list, pushing Texas toward the "zero" infected herd goal. Producers who accept the buy-out don't have to cope with a quarantine on the herd that can run a year or longer. This also is the period during which neighboring herds are at risk of becoming infected with the disease.

Once the depopulation agreement is signed and the animals are shipped to slaughter, the producer can restock pastures with disease-free cattle within a few weeks.

"Use of the new RB-51 vaccine, depopulating infected herds, surveillance and hard work by producers, private veterinarians, livestock market operators, and TAHC and USDA staff will get us to 'zero' infected herds and finally, to Class 'Free,'" says Beals.

To advance from zero infection to the USDA's Class "Free" designation, a state must continue surveillance and herd testing but find no infection for at least 12 months.

"Brucellosis is developing into a trade issue. As additional states reach 'Free' status, and other countries begin eradication programs or clear up infection, we could see restrictions on Texas cattle moving out of state or out of the country, if we don't wrap up eradication efforts," he cautions.

"One brucellosis-infected herd could keep Texas from reaching the zero or 'Free' status."

Beals offers a profile of herds that are more likely to be at increased risk of infection and should be checked by TAHC staff or a private veterinarian. These would include herds in which untested cattle have been introduced to the herd, or herds that may be infected but the disease has gone undiscovered because only calves have been sold.

Cattle that have aborted and/or have retained afterbirth, or herds that have never been tested also may be at particular risk. Herds also should be evaluated if they have been infected in the past, have been adjacent to or commingled with infected herds, or are in areas where, historically, infection was widespread.

Toll-free numbers have been activated for all TAHC areas. They are: Area 1,(800) 658-6526; Area 2, (800) 658-6559; Area 3, (800) 687-4603; Area 4, (800) 658-6560; Area 5, (800) 658-6570; Area 5 sub-office in San Antonio, (800) 658-6615; Area 6, (800) 658-6642; Area 7, (800) 552-8413; Area 8, (800) 687-8242; Binational Office in Laredo, (800) 658-6853.

Producers may contact their nearest area office, or call the TAHC Austin headquarters at (800) 550-8242 to discuss their herd's history with a TAHC veterinarian and determine if their cattle may need a free brucellosis test.