Colorado Department of Agriculture
Contact: Christi Lightcap, (303) 239-4190, Christi.lightcap@ag.state.co.us
CDA Strives to Protect Colorado's
Livestock from Disease
LAKEWOOD , Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Industry is responsible for animal health and livestock disease control activities in Colorado. The total value of the state's cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens is $2.97 billion; cattle accounts for 95 percent of this amount with 2.75 million head of cattle and calves.
“Livestock disease control goes beyond our back yard and across state lines,” said Assistant State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr. “The Colorado Department of Agriculture takes an all-hazards approach to animal health; we strive to be prepared for any emergency.”
CDA's Division of Animal Industry is on hand to help during natural disasters, participates in the National Animal Identification System, and works with the Agricultural Commission to pass rules and regulations to benefit Colorado 's livestock while keeping constant vigil over animal diseases across the globe.
Brucellosis
In recent months, Montana 's brucellosis status has been changed from “Class Free” to “Class A” due to a brucellosis affected herd in June. CDA has been working with Colorado 's livestock producers, livestock feeding industries, livestock industry groups and private practicing veterinarians to evaluate the livestock imports from Montana based on the science of disease, considering risks and the economic impacts of the import regulations we administer. Brucellosis in livestock can cause abortion, infertility and sterility.
Bovine Tuberculosis
In 2007, bovine tuberculosis was discovered in a Douglas County rodeo livestock herd; Colorado did not lose its “Free Status.” Recently, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service downgraded the state of New Mexico to a state of Modified Accredited Advanced TB status classification. CDA has updated TB import requirements to provide the Colorado breeding herd protection from disease entry while allowing reasonable movement of feeder cattle to ensure the economic viability of Colorado 's livestock feeding industry. Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic pathogen that causes lesions in the thoracic and abdominal cavity of infected animals. It is spread primarily by respiratory aerosols being exhaled or coughed out by infected animals and can then inhaled by animals or humans.
Scrapie
Through a USDA grant, CDA helps sheep producers with the cost of testing their herds for scrapie susceptibility. Scrapie is an infectious, and fatal, disease of sheep and goats, which causes a degeneration of the central nervous system resulting in a variety of behavioral and locomotive changes. Scrapie costs the sheep industry between $20-25 million per year, but resistance to the disease in sheep can be determined by a genetic test.
Bovine Trichomoniasis
Currently, there are two trichomoniasis quarantine locations in Colorado. So far in 2008, 37 Colorado facilities in 16 counties have had trichomoniasis quarantines. “Trich” is a costly, yet preventable, venereal infection that can affect dairy and beef cattle, causing fertility problems, such as early embryonic death or abortion of the calf, and is asymptomatic in bulls.
Note: CDA has been sending out weekly updates on this virus. Those updates will now happen on a bi-weekly basis.
“CDA's Livestock Disease Program is responsible for maintaining the health of Colorado 's herds and that translates into a safe product for the public,” continued Roehr. “I encourage livestock owners to help us in this endeavor by keeping a keen eye on their herds, pregnancy rates, and overall health of their animals.”
For more information on CDA's Division of Animal Industry, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/animals or call (303) 239-4161.
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