Sublette County bleeds clean, another Teton herd infected

by Cat Urbigkit

It was great news for two Sublette County cattle producers this week – both their herds had bled clean, brucellosis-free. But it was devastating news for another Teton County cattlemen’s family – four positives were found in their herd and they were faced with the decision whether to enter into a long-term quarantine and testing program or allow animal health officials to “depopulate’ their herd. Actually, the family’s herd consists of both a commercial herd and a purebred herd, both of which will apparently have the same fate: slaughter.

The four cows that tested positive in the Teton County herd were members of a herd that had come into contact with one that tested positive in July of this year. The contact herd was released to summer grazing at the time and had not been tested until recently. All four of the infected animals underwent preliminary tests, and two of them went on to culture tests in the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Tests conducted there confirmed the positive results.

Two other contact herds belonging to Sublette County ranches were tested recently as well. Chuck Bacheller and Gary Lozier’s outfits were bled by animal health officials last week and Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Dwayne Oldham announced that these herds bled clean and have been released from quarantine. About 20 bulls on the Lozier outfit remain under quarantine until they can be tested, probably late this week, he said.

“Wyoming’s livestock producers continue to operate in the face of serious challenges,” Governor Dave Freudenthal said. “It is important that we remember when this happens that testing is doing its job, and we will continue doing everything we can to see the state regain its class-free status.”

Wyoming can regain its brucellosis-free status by complying with the provisions of Class A status, which it is currently under, for one year if no new infection is found within that time. With the newly found infection, the one-year provision restarts.

The state received Class A status earlier this year, when the second of two infected herds were found in the state. Essentially, the requirements for states with Class A status are that all test-eligible cattle shall be tested for brucellosis within 30 days prior to change of ownership or interstate movement. If cattle are going directly to slaughter from the farm or ranch of origin and the identity of the herd of origin is maintained, they are exempt from this test requirement.