Cattle auctions getting vet help

BISMARCK (AP) — Veterinarians at western North Dakota livestock auction markets are getting help with handling cattle from Montana, which recently lost its brucellosis-free status.

State Veterinarian Susan Keller said an assistant state vet is being sent to those auctions to help the vets there with testing issues that come up.

Federal Agriculture Department veterinarian Larry Schuler said that agency also has provided some training on brucellosis testing for the auction market vets.

Montana lost its federal disease-free status for brucellosis earlier this month, triggering man-datory testing for cattle being shipped out of state.

The North Dakota Board of Animal Health had already drafted rules earlier this year for importing Montana cattle and bison, as a precaution. North Dakota has been certified as brucellosis-free since 1982.

Tags: cattle, auctions, montana, brucellosis