TB tests no longer needed

to import Minnesota cattle

Now that Minnesota's TB-free status has been restored, State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Ehlenfeldt has removed the last testing requirements for cattle entering Wisconsin from that state.

"Minnesota attacked their bovine tuberculosis situation head-on and were able to eradicate it fairly quickly, and they're to be congratulated," Ehlenfeldt said. "I'm glad we can take down the last of the barriers we had to erect to protect our dairy industry and other livestock that are susceptible to TB."

The only requirements for Minnesota cattle entering Wisconsin now will be official identification and certificates of veterinary inspection - the same requirements that all livestock entering Wisconsin need.

Minnesota animal health authorities first discovered a TB-infected beef herd in the northwestern part of the state in July 2005. Eventually the infected herd count rose to 11, leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lower Minnesota's TB status and many states to impose import requirements for cattle from Minnesota. Now the state's Board of Animal Health and producers have eliminated the disease, and the USDA restored its TB-free status Oct. 4.

Minnesota is one of Wisconsin's biggest cattle trading partners. Last year 69,500 head came to Wisconsin from Minnesota.

Bovine tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that spreads between animals in close contact, through the air and in contaminated milk and manure.