State approves cattle buyout to contain bovine TB
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A Minnesota Senate committee has approved a plan to buy out cattle herds today in part of the state hit by bovine tuberculosis.
State officials are trying to contain the disease, which has already infected 11 herds in northwestern Minnesota.
The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation that establishes a $3.5 million cattle-buyout program in a designated 56-herd zone. The bill's author, Sen. Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, says the buyout is voluntary.
"If the producer does not choose to take the buyout, the board of animal health will do a risk assessment of their far," Skoe said. "And they will determine appropriate measures to ensure that there's no interaction between deer and cattle. That will then lead more than likely to significant fencing requirements on those farms."
Skoe said Minnesota's bovine TB outbreak is relatively small compared to some other states. With aggressive action, he says the disease could be eliminated in the targeted area within five years.
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