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It’s
hard to believe this is the 38th "From the Office of the State
Veterinarian" article we have written for AFC Cooperative
Farming News. In fact it was the April, 2005 issue that had our
first article entitled, "The Role of the State Veterinarian,"
which can still be read in the website archives of www.alafarmnews.com.
When we began writing this column, we had about five good ideas, but
were not sure we could last for more than a year without running out of
subject matter. Well, that hasn’t happened yet. We would like to offer
a great big "Thank You!" to Jim Allen and the folks at AFC
Cooperative Farming News for allowing us a forum to communicate our
message with producers and those involved with agriculture.
Occasionally,
we use this column to address various issues needing to be brought to
your attention. This month we will be cleaning out the cupboard and hope
it is some information you will find valuable. It seems like a good time
to give you an update on emergency preparedness, animal health and the
current status of animal identification.
Emergency
Preparedness
Currently,
the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, along with the
Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the USDA and the Alabama
Emergency Management Agency (EMA) are sponsoring county-level meetings
that help to plan and prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak at
the county level. So far, in the counties where meetings have already
been held, the level of awareness of local involvement and the roles to
be played in a disaster have been very successful. Not all of the
questions have been answered, but the meetings have got us all thinking
about issues that can only be handled at the local level. We appreciate
the support of the county EMA personnel, as well as the other local
agencies involved. There are two truths these meetings help us address.
First, all disasters are local. Second, during a disaster is never a
good time to plan. We encourage all local agriculture leaders and
veterinarians to attend these meetings if contacted by your local EMA.
Animal
Health
We
are continuing to emphasize the importance of foreign animal disease
awareness. My office is in Montgomery and it’s about as likely space
aliens will come by and visit me as it is for a cow, horse, pig or
chicken with a foreign animal disease to come to my office. Therefore, I
depend on producers and the local veterinarians to report various
disease syndromes to me. Those disease syndromes are any unusual or
unexplained illnesses possibly indicating a foreign animal disease
(FAD). These disease syndromes include large die-offs, mouth lesions
(especially blisters), abortions, high-percentage morbidity (illness)
and neurological signs. We are extremely concerned to either prevent the
introduction of an FAD or control it immediately if it’s introduced
into our state. Because the livestock in this country have no immunity
to diseases not occurring here, it is likely an outbreak could be very
devastating to our animal agriculture. If you have any of the above
syndromes—or other odd disease syndromes in your herd or flock, please
contact your local veterinarian. If you have other questions, please
call my office at 334-240-7253.
A
brief update on bovine tuberculosis seems to be in order. Currently New
Mexico, Minnesota and parts of Michigan are the only states dealing with
this disease. The New Mexico problem is largely in dairies. Both
Michigan and Minnesota had found the same strain of the organism in
whitetail deer as they have found in cattle. Recently rodeo stock in
Oklahoma and Colorado have tested positive at slaughter, and California
has had a positive farm recently. Having a livestock disease shared with
wildlife can make it particularly difficult to irradiate. In Alabama,
the last case of bovine tuberculosis was found in 1981. We must remain
on guard to keep it out of our state.
Premises
Registration
Finally
I want to give an update on premises registration. We now have over
8,000 of the state’s livestock premises registered. Our best estimates
are there are around 35,000 premises in the state with livestock. That
means we still have some distance to go. If you have not registered you
premises, please contact our office or your local cooperative extension
animal science specialist. The form can also be downloaded from our
website: www.agi.alabama.gov
or the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association website:
www.bamabeef.org.
If you have questions about premises registration, please contact us. |
