DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today highlighted updated restrictions on cattle moving into Iowa from Minnesota following the recent notice from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that Minnesota’s state tuberculosis (TB) status was reduced to Modified Accredited following the discovery of four additional TB-infected herds. All herds were in extreme northern Minnesota.
USDA has five different classifications for states or zones within states according to its level of occurrence of bovine TB. They are: Accredited Free; Modified Accredited Advanced; Modified Accredited, Accredited Preparatory and Non-Accredited. Restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves accredited free status.
Iowa’s current state TB status is a Accredited Free and Iowa has maintained this TB-free status since 1986.
“The cattle industry has a huge economic impact in Iowa, so protecting animal health is vital,” Northey said. “These updated requirements will help us do that while still allowing healthy animals to travel into the state from Minnesota.”
Bovine TB is a contagious and infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other warm-blooded species and can be fatal. The disease can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of raw milk. It is not transmitted through consumption of pasteurized milk.
The updated regulations released by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in compliance with USDA direction, include the following requirements for cattle and bison moving into Iowa auction markets from Minnesota:
Feeder steers and spayed heifers
Negative TB test within 60 days of movement if animal is two months of age and older and has official identification. No restricted movement.
Feeder heifers (intact)
Negative TB test within 60 days of movement if animal is two months of age and older and has official identification. Heifers are restricted to move from the auction market to an Approved Terminal Feedlot. Producers wishing to obtain an Approved Terminal Feedlot status must contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) at 515-281-6358.
Breeding cattle
Herd of origin must have tested negative for TB within the past 12 months AND have a negative test of the individual animals (2 months of age and older) within the past 60 days.*
* The second test is not required if the animals to be moved that are 2 months of age and older are moved to the auction market within 60 days following the herd of origin herd test and those animals were included in the testing on that herd of origin herd test.
Finished cattle
Negative TB test within the past 60 days. Cattle restricted to move from auction market directly to slaughter.
Cull cows and bulls
Same requirements as for breeding cattle.
In addition, producers moving cattle to Iowa auction markets will have to present documentation of tuberculosis testing at the time of delivery of cattle to the auction market and the documentation of testing must be maintained in the market records.
For cattle and bison originating from a tuberculosis accredited herd no test is required if accompanied by a copy of the producer’s Tuberculosis Accredited Herd certificate stating that all members of the accredited herd completed the testing necessary with negative results within 1 year of movement.
If cattle are trucked directly from Minnesota to an approved slaughtering establishment in Iowa there are no restrictions.
Currently these regulations apply to all cattle moving from Minnesota, however the state is in the process of applying for split state status, which would mean only cattle coming from the region where TB has been found will face the additional testing requirements.
Livestock producers with questions regarding the new regulations should contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Bureau at 515-281-5547.
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