PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
June 4, 2009 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856

LINCOLN - Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach and State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes will discuss the current status of the Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) case in Rock County during an informational meeting next week at the Nebraska Ranch Expo in Bassett.

Ibach and Hughes are scheduled to speak at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. The Expo is being held at the Rock County Fairgrounds, and Ibach and Hughes will speak in the grandstand area.

NDA announced earlier this week that a herd of beef cattle in the Rock County area have tested positive for bovine TB.

"We have staff working in the area as part of the epidemiological investigation," Ibach said, "and we continue to contact Rock County cattle producers as our investigation evolves. We continue to receive good cooperation from the herd owners, which is allowing us to move quickly."

As part of the epidemiological investigation, NDA staff members also currently are in the process of contacting producers in Loup and Holt counties who pastured cattle that may have had fence line contact with the infected herd.

At the meeting on June 11, Ibach and Hughes will provide an update on the TB case, and producers will have an opportunity to ask questions. Ibach originally was scheduled to speak at the Expo about premises registration through the National Animal Identification System and Country of Origin Labeling, but the topic has been changed to TB to address the current situation.

"This meeting will provide us the opportunity to share as much information as we can to aid producers as they carry on their daily business activities," Ibach said.

In addition to the informational meeting, NDA will continue to release updates as new information is available. Producers are encouraged to check the TB-related materials posted on-line at www.agr.ne.gov under the TB button on the right-hand side of the home page. Individuals with questions also can contact NDA by calling 800-831-0550 during normal business hours.

TB is a slow, progressive disease and is difficult to diagnose in the early stages; however, as the disease progresses, animals can exhibit emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever, and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough.