ISSUES POLICY


Cattle Health Should Remain Top Priority for Ranchers By Tom Haynie, TSCRA director and Animal Health Committee chair


A


S WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE AND OTHER CRITI- cal issues along the Texas-Mexico border, the threat


of an animal disease and parasite outbreak grows. I am gravely concerned about how the lack of proper


border security creates health inspection challenges. Increasing global commerce and ease of movement makes it possible to transfer people, products and ani- mals around the world in a matter of hours, greatly enhancing the possible transmission of diseases and parasites that could harm the cattle industry and public health. Ranchers, the Texas Animal Health Commission


(TAHC) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) constantly monitor animal diseases and parasitic in- festations. Fever tick control along the Texas-Mexico border


is a critical issue for the cattle industry. According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service report, the cost of a relatively small fever tick outbreak outside of the quarantine zone in Texas would be $123 million in the fi rst year, including capital costs and ongoing variable annual costs. TSCRA strongly supports TAHC and USDA in their


surveillance efforts, testing of control methods, and treatment of livestock or wildlife that may be a host for cattle fever ticks. We also recognize the importance of cattle production in all quarantine zones. These zones have proven effective for controlling the disease. Additionally, ranchers must work to prevent tricho-


moniasis, a venereal disease that causes infertility, abortions, delayed calving and reduced calf crops.


94 The Cattleman April 2015


This disease requires prevention rather than cure and is becoming more prevalent in Texas cattle herds. Texas has implemented regulations to address this


devastating disease; however, it is crucial for ranchers to take this disease seriously and make sure it isn’t introduced into their cattle herds. We should also closely monitor cattle tuberculosis.


It affects the lungs and chest lymph nodes, and symp- toms include weight loss, chronic cough and death. Although Texas has been declared tuberculosis-free, imported cattle have not been adequately tested to prevent tuberculosis in all U.S. cattle. TSCRA supports USDA rules that are based on sound science and provide for adequate testing and surveillance of domestic and imported cattle to help completely eradicate tubercu- losis in the U.S. We support the efforts of the TAHC to keep Texas free of this disease. TSCRA believes animal disease traceability plays


an important role in helping cattle producers prevent animal diseases. Intrastate and interstate disease trace- ability programs have enabled the cattle industry and state and federal animal health offi cials to respond rapidly and effectively to animal health emergencies, which is key to protecting cattle herd health. We will keep all these issues in mind when we work


with the Texas legislators and at the federal level. We will continue to support federal and state animal health offi cials’ reasonable requests for resources to protect the cattle industry from devastating animal diseases. I urge you to contact TSCRA with any animal health


questions or issues. thecattlemanmagazine.com


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