During the 1997 legislative session a bill was passed and signed by the governor that prohibits the sale of diseased or disabled livestock at our livestock markets. Regulations are in place to implement that law. Bovine brucellosis eradication remains the number one priority of the department. Four years ago, thirty-seven herds were known to be infected with the disease. At this time, no known infection exists.
Depopulation is the most effective method of eradicating the disease.
The federal government has contributed many resources to this effort in the past and will do so until December 31, 1998. At that time it will be the sole responsibility of states to eradicate brucellosis on their own. The cost to the state will be considerable if this goal is not met. Porcine pseudorabies eradication is also a priority of the department. Governor Graves and the 1997 legislature provided funds to depopulate pseudorabies infected swine herds and mandated that any herd not making sufficient progress towards disease clean-up be depopulated.