LINCOLN, Neb.—Cattle and bison imported to Nebraska from the Yellowstone region of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming soon will face tougher identification requirements.
The state Department of Agriculture issued an importation order Friday that calls for those animals to be permanently marked so they can be traced back to the state of origin. The order takes effect April 1.
“We feel it is important to have regulations in place to help safeguard our animals and protect the livelihood of our farmers and ranchers,” Nebraska agriculture director Greg Ibach said.
Brucellosis spreads to cattle from wildlife and can cause cows and bison to go into premature calving or abort their calves. Infected cows sometimes can become sterile. The disease has been persistent in the Yellowstone region, appearing recently in cattle in all three states.
The new Nebraska rule will require all sexually intact cattle and bison from 14 counties in the Yellowstone region to be given a unique identification number that will allow it to be traced to the state of origin. Imported animals from other parts of those states that aren’t sent directly to slaughter must bear a tag saying they’re not from that region.
The counties covered by the import order are: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Caribou, Fremont and Teton in Idaho; Beaverhead, Gallatin, Madison and Park in Montana; and Fremont, Lincoln, Park, Sublette and Teton in Wyoming.
Colorado recently instituted a similar identification requirement. It goes into effect Sept. 1.
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