National Ag News
Bovine TB hurts rural communities
A dairy extension educator says bovine tuberculosis (TB) is felt across entire rural communities.
Phil Durst with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield the four north eastern counties of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula where he works including Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency and Oscoda, average up to four herds confirmed with bovine TB each year. He says that has ripple effects to the entire community. “With this factor of TB hanging over farms, there’s been a lack of growth of the industry, there’s been a lack of growth on individual farms, and that limits the economic viability of industry in the area and it certainly impacts the secondary business that all of that brings to a community.”
Durst says less than two percent of the wild deer population in the region is infected with TB, but with more than 100,000 roaming the area it’s difficult to control.
Continue reading Bovine TB hurts rural communities at Brownfield Ag News.
