Date:
3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM
Title:
CCA Applauds Amended Bovine Tuberculosis Regulations in New Mexico
ARVADA, Colo. March 24, 2009 – The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has long been a supporter of zone classification for states managing certain diseases, such as Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, through its Animal Health Steering Committee, worked with Colorado and New Mexico animal health officials to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognize the proximate nature of New Mexico’s TB infected herds and not limit commerce of beef cattle not epidemiologically connected to the area.
“The new split state status for New Mexico represents many hours of work and extensive TB testing on the part of New Mexico and Colorado cattle producers. This new status will provide a greater ease of movement of cattle between New Mexico and Colorado. Our office will continue to work with other states that experience program disease issues to ensure the protection of Colorado’s herd, while considering the economic impacts of movement restrictions,” stated Colorado Sate Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) determined that New Mexico meets the requirements for zone classification since all of the state’s affected herds are located in a small area along its eastern border. Therefore, New Mexico will be removed from the list of modified accredited advanced states for Bovinebovine TB. The areas of Curry and Roosevelt counties, in New Mexico will be added to the list of modified accredited advanced zones. The remainder of the state will be added to the list of accredited free zones. This action relieves restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle from these areas of New Mexico outside of the modified accredited zone in the other two counties.
Notice of this interim rule is scheduled for publication in the March 23 Federal Register and becomes effective upon publication.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before May 22. Send two copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0124, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comments can be submitted on the Federal eRulemaking portal at
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0124.
Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web site and also can be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is the state’s only nonprofit trade organization exclusively representing Colorado’s cattle producers. Founded in 1867, CCA is the nation’s oldest state cattlemen’s association.