Greater Yellowstone Area Brucellosis Situation

Myles WattsDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Economics

Montana State UniversityNovember 14, 2008

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Current Facts

GYA states brucellosis class free status in continuous jeopardy

GYA wildlife harbor the only continuous pool of brucellosis in North America

Slaughter of bison leaving the park is a politically unpopular solution

Concentration of elk increases infection in wildlife and transmission to livestock

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Objectives

Goals: Eradicate brucellosis in the GYA and

USMaintain livestock grazing in the GYASafeguard wildlife and livestock from

further infectionMaintain a vigorous, healthy wildlife

population

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Plans Currently Under Discussion

Brucellosis Action Plan (BAP) Developed by Board of Livestock and State

Veterinarian Progressive Management Area Plan (PMA)

Developed by Montana Stock Growers and Montana Farm Bureau

National Brucellosis Elimination Zone Proposal (NBEZ) Developed by Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service, USDA

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Brucellosis Action Plan (BAP)(Released 11/13/2008: Preliminary Interpretation)

Need for a plan and documentation (testing) as foundation to regain Class Free status

Defines management areas based on level of risk

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Brucellosis Action Plan (BAP)(Released 11/13/2008: Preliminary Interpretation)

Outlines strategies for two different proposals First proposal contains 3 areas and will be referred to

as BAP3 The second proposal contains only two areas and will

be referred to as BAP2 Requirements for Area 2 in BAP2 are the same

as Area 3 in BAP3 Requirements for Area 1 in BAP2 are the same

as Area 1 in BAP3

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BAP3: Risk Areas

Area 1: Special Focus AreaGYA area with documented infected wild

bison or elk Area 2: Assurance Area

Area where GYA elk may range and brucellosis prevalence is negative or unknown

Area 3: Remainder of Montana

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BAP3: Risk Areas

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BAP2: Risk Areas

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BAP3 and BAP2: Duration

Short term plan Continues until the longer of:

All herds in Area 1 conduct a whole herd brucellosis test

Montana regains Class Free status

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BAP3: Surveillance

Required Cattle testing AreaEntire herd testing

1Movement testing (to outside 1) 1Change of ownership/cull cattle 1,2,3

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BAP3 and BAP2: Vaccination

Official calfhood vaccination required for all areas

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BAP3: Individual Animal Identification

Area Ear tags 1,2,3*

OVC: orange metal USDA or USDA approved

Metal tags RFID tags

Montana approved ear tags

*Recommended

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BAP3: Best Management Practices

Area Aborted fetus testing

1*,2* Adult vaccination 1* Game proof fencing (Hay stacks/feed storage) 1*,2* Avert cattle and elk commingling 1*,2* Register cattle in National Id database 1*,2* Miscellaneous other recommendations 1*,2*

*Recommended

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BAP3 and BAP2: Wildlife

FWP participation will include Hazing of elk Provide game proof fencing materials

Feed storage area Cattle feeding areas

Other elk and cattle separation efforts Cosign herd plans Work with livestock producers on elk brucellosis

surveillance

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Progressive Management Area (PMA)

Montana producer organizations are working with USDA to provide a long term resolution

Need coordination betweenGovernment (e.g. USDA, APHIS,DOI)Private Interests Will lead to a MT, WY, ID coordination

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PMA Objectives

Regain brucellosis Class Free status

Implement separate but complementary brucellosis management plans for bison, cattle, and elk

Minimize economic impact of the brucellosis infections on producers

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PMA : Immediate Response

Implementation of the later discussed comprehensive management plans will not address animal infection potential during the next several months

Spatial separation of wildlife and livestock should be used to address this interim situation

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PMA Approach: Three Parallel Tracks

USDA is receptive to working with Montana producers on three parallel tracks

1. Short term: Montana Action Plan,

2. Mid term: Harmonized state level (MT,WY,ID) action plan

3. Long term: Enhance GYIBC MOU and IBMP for long term solution (UM&R??)

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PMA: Comprehensive Management Plan Needed Critical elements to manage disease outbreak

ID cattle, bison and elk Testing Vaccination (elk vaccine is not available) Tagging Traceability

Management of concentrated elk

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PMA Definition

PMA will be the county where the sero positive cattle are located and any county within ten miles of the location of the cattle.

PMA adjacent counties are defined as any county adjacent to the PMA county unless the location of the cattle are more than 50 miles from the adjacent county border.

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PMA and Adjacent Counties Example

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Vaccinated, tagged (840), and annually tested

Producer/location/animal ID in database Movements traced Compensation for testing, tagging,

vaccination, tracking and tracing

Cattle in PMA

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Requirements for cattle in adjacent PMA countiesVaccinated, tagged (840), and testedProducer/premise/animal ID in databaseCompensation for testing, tagging and vaccinationHerds previously compliant will be recognized

Remainder of Montana – Move to an 840 tag environment for voluntary heifer vaccination to replace metal tags

Cattle in PMA (cont.)

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Bison in PMA

Bison leaving YNP captured and tested for brucellosisPositive – slaughteredNegative

High frequency ear tag and/or panel tag Vaccinated Long term contraception/sterilization Tracked

Bison: Follow Bison Management Plan

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Elk in PMA

Aggressively sample elk leaving YNP and test for brucellosis.Positive – slaughteredNegative

Tagged with high frequency ear tag and/or panel tag Vaccinated when effective vaccine becomes available Tracked

Address elk concentration

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PMA: Recovery of Class Free Status

Recovery of Class Free status in 6 months for non PMA and adjacent PMA counties upon completion of vaccination, testing, and tagging

Recovery of Class Free in PMA area in accordance with UM&R. May require continued management plan.

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PMA: Other Considerations

Funding Previous USDA biosecurity education funding can

be used USDA funding of testing, vaccination and tag,

tracing and tracking in PMA USDA funding of testing, vaccination and tag in

PMA adjacent counties Montana ????

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PMA: Other Considerations

Program to gain experience/skills for other zoonotic disease outbreaks

Vaccine Efficacy Cattle and BisonElkVaccine research and development

Need quick buy in with key stakeholders if moving forward

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National Brucellosis Elimination Zone (NBEZ)

Define a high risk zone for livestockRemainder of state maintains class free statusBoundary flexible and dependent on

brucellosis infection riskHerd risk scoring will be used to tier herds

within NBEZ

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NBEZ – Herd Risk Scoring

Based on Management practicesBiosecurityContact and presence of elk and bison

populationsMitigating management strategiesMingling or mixing with herds of higher risk

status

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NBEZ - Mitigation

SurveillanceRisk status will affect surveillance levelsHigher surveillance within the NBEZAnimals removed from NBEZ will be targeted

for higher surveillance using electronic animal movement information and mandatory identification

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NBEZ - Mitigation

Herd level surveillance may include Movement testing Investigation of abortions Serologic testing of herds Electronic movement certificates Vaccination Restricting movement of livestock only to slaughter

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NBEZ - Implementation

Will require regulatory changes Many months to completion APHIS will work with GYA states to

establish program specifics National Animal Identification System and

the Animal Health Surveillance and Monitoring System will be used to enhance surveillance capabilities

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NBEZ - Implementation

Livestock movement Limited to assure that the risk of disease spread

outside the zone is minimal without testing Key components:

NBEZ implementation of Premise and Animal ID Combined with other efforts such as

Check stations Permitting Electronic movement certificates Slaughter surveillance Frequent record review

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NBEZ - Wildlife

Concurrent planning effort with wildlife agencies

Coordinated surveillance of both the domestic livestock and wildlife