USDA Raising Bangs Indemnity
Payments To Speed Eradication

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Livestock Conservation Institute says the nation’s brucellosis eradication program remains a top priority in the last few months of 1998 as the target date for completion draws closer. USDA, the LCI reports, has announced a final rule that will increase indemnity payments for brucellosis-infected and exposed cattle and bison.

The increased indemnity final rule was published Sept. 8 in the Federal Register.

Forty-two states are currently recognized as Class Free for brucellosis. As of September 30, seven affected cattle herds and one bison herd remain in four Class A states: four cattle herds in Texas, one in Florida, two in Missouri, and one captive bison herd in South Dakota. The remaining Class A states, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma have no affected herds and are working to achieve Class Free status.

Brucellosis, a highly contagious disease in cattle and other animals, causes abortions and lowered milk production. In humans, the disease causes undulant fever, marked by severe flu-like symptoms that can last for months or years if left untreated.

Recognizing that Class Free states may find an isolated herd that previously escaped detection, and to ensure prompt resolution of isolated cases of brucellosis, USDA is proposing to amend existing brucellosis regulations to allow a state to retain its brucellosis Class Free status following the detection of a single affected herd. The state would have to meet certain conditions and could only use this provision once in any two-year period. This proposed amendment to federal program rules was published September 17 in the Federal Register.

Under the proposed amendment, when a Class Free state detects brucellosis in a cattle or bison herd, the state would have to determine the source of the infection, eliminate the affected herd, and ensure that the disease has not spread to other herds. These requirements must be completed within 60 days following the disclosure of the affected herd, with no additional infection found, for the state to retain its Class Free status.

The final rule on indemnity increases the amount offered to producers of affected herds for cattle and bison destroyed by whole herd depopulation.

The rule offers producers two methods in determining the amount of indemnity. Owners of cattle and bison eligible for federal indemnity can choose the appraisal method or fixed-rate method when they agree to whole herd depopulation, states Dr. Valerie Ragan, senior staff veterinarian, USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services.

According to Ragan, several comments were received and amendments were made to the proposed rule. These amendments included increased indemnity for registered beef and dairy cattle. In addition, eligible owners can also receive payment for unweaned steer calves in herds approved for depopulation.

Under the appraisal method, each eligible animal will be appraised to determine its fair market value, and the indemnity shall be the appraised value minus the salvage value. The cost of the appraisals will be paid for by APHIS. Under the fixed-rate method, indemnity shall not exceed $250 per animal for domestic bison and non-registered cattle other than dairy cattle, and $750 for registered cattle and non-registered dairy cattle.

More information about the program is available from Dr. Valerie Ragan, senior staff veterinarian, USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services, at (301) 734-7708.