South Dakota cattle need

TB tests to enter Wisconsin

Cattle from South Dakota will need to meet tuberculosis testing requirements before entering Wisconsin, following a new discovery of bovine TB there, Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Ehlenfeldt announced.

Although South Dakota's TB-free status has not been downgraded, Wisconsin will require testing for cattle from that state unless they are going to slaughter when they arrive, Ehlenfeldt said.

"South Dakota has fought this fight before and eradicated TB, but we can't take chances in Wisconsin. The dairy industry is too important to our economy to risk by letting our guard down," he said.

The new requirements include:

• Negative individual tests within 60 days before import for dairy and beef cattle brought in for breeding or exhibition, or as feeder cattle.

• Negative individual tests for veal calves that are 30 days or older unless they're confined to one premises from arrival until they go to slaughter.

• Animals will be exempt from testing requirements if they are from accredited TB-free herds, or go direct to slaughter or approved import feedlots.

South Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven announced Wednesday, Nov. 9, that a TB-infected herd had been found in the southeastern part of the state. Animal health authorities in South Dakota are tracing other herds that might be connected with the infected herd.

South Dakota previously also found two infected cattle herds in January 2010 and destroyed both.

For detailed information about Wisconsin import requirements, go to http://datcp.wisconsin.gov.