The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development announced Oct. 9 that bovine tuberculosis (TB) was recently confirmed in a large beef herd in Alcona County, Mich.

This herd, which is the 73rd cattle herd to be identified with bovine TB in Michigan since 1998, was discovered through routine surveillance testing, the department said.

Bovine TB is an infectious bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle. It is endemic in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in Michigan’s modified accredited zone -- a U.S. Department of Agriculture designation for Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties. Annual surveillance and movement testing are required of cattle producers, which helps catch the disease early and prevents it from being moved off the farm.

“In the modified accredited zone, anything shared by deer and cattle can be a potential source of bovine tuberculosis infection,” Michigan assistant state veterinarian Dr. Nancy Barr said. “Preventing deer from having contact with cattle feed, feed storage or watering areas is crucial for farmers in this area of Michigan and a part of wildlife biosecurity programs being implemented.”

This latest development will be discussed at two informational meetings in Mio and Hillman, Mich.

More information on bovine TB can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/bovinetb.