Parts of Michigan Designated "Potential High-Risk Area" for Bovine TB

Officials in Michigan have designated parts of the northern region of the state as a “Potential High-Risk Area” for bovine tuberculosis.

On April 12, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development the designation was made for parts of Iosco and Ogemaw counties.

These designations follow the confirmation of a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Alcona County testing positive for bovine TB. The case was confirmed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Whenever a deer tests positive, all cattle or bison herds located within a 15-mile radius of the deer must be tested for bovine TB within six months. The required testing excludes counties where annual testing already occurs, like Alcona County.

Testing of cattle and bison ensures that bovine TB has not spread from deer to cattle or bison, helping protect not only the Michigan cattle herd but the national herd.

The radius includes the following township sections in Iosco and Ogemaw counties:

Iosco County, Oscoda Township

• T24N R6E sections 1-34
• T24N R7E sections 4-9 and 17-19

Iosco County, Plainfield Township

• T24N R5E sections 1-36
• T23N R5E sections 1-6
• T23N R6E sections 5-6

Ogemaw County, Rose Township

• T24N R3E sections 1-17, 21-27, and 36

Ogemaw County, Goodar Township

• T24N R4E sections 1-36

Ogemaw County, Hill Township

• T23N R4E sections 1-5

Cattle or bison owners in those township sections will be contacted by MDARD to schedule testing.

There will also be an information meeting held to discuss testing and the “Potential High-Risk Area” designation. Details are as follows:

Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

• Rose Township Hall
• 3380 Lupton Rd., Lupton, MI 48635

Cattle or bison herd owners in these township sections who have questions about testing can contact MDARD’s Atlanta Office at 888-565-8626.

Michigan’s Bovine TB Status

While a deer was recently identified as being a positive bovine TB carrier, there has also been a cattle herd identified in the past year in Michigan. On Oct. 9, a large beef cattle herd in Alcona County was confirmed to have bovine TB. This was the 73rd time since 1998 a cattle herd in Michigan had been identified as having bovine TB.

Here is a breakdown on the statics for white-tailed deer TB testing:

2018 White-tailed Deer TB Testing As of February 22, 2019