Bovine viral diarrhea or BVD
Eradication of a disease affecting cattle can be a problem but it may happen with one troublesome illness. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll return right after this with some details.
Eradication of any disease is a lofty goal, but attaining that goal can sometimes be a real trial. This is especially true, I think in livestock diseases. Bovine viral diarrhea or BVD in cattle is an ailment that is estimated to cost the industry right at $50 million each year. Science has developed a test to identify carriers of the disease so they and their immediate ancestors can be eliminated from the herd. You would think a program to eliminate a cattle health issue would be more likely to happen in one of the more notable cattle producing states, but according to a Western Farmer-Stockman article by Alan Newport this effort is taking place in Michigan. To be more specific the Upper Peninsula of Michigan also known as the U.P. Several hundred beef and dairy producers have initiated a voluntary eradication program involving Michigan State University, USDA veterinarians and Pfizer Animal Health personnel. The U.P. offers a good location for the effort with its relative geographic isolation and the fact most cattle move out of the area not into it. DVM, Ben Bartlett, MSU's Extension dairy and livestock educator says positive producer response has moved the process ahead of schedule. Personally, I think this shows when producers see a true benefit, a voluntary program will work and may spread to other states. I'm Jeff Keane.
