DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK 301 NORTH ROBERTS PO BOX 202001 HELENA, MONTANA 59620-2001 PHONE: (406) 444-7323 FAX: (406) 444-1929

ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION (406) 444-2043 BRANDS ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (406) 444-2045 CENTRALIZED SERVICES DIVISION (406) 444-4994 EXECUTIVE OFFICE/BOARD OF LIVESTOCK (406) 444-9321 MEAT & POULTRY INSPECTION BUREAU (406) 444-5202 MILK & EGG BUREAU (406) 444-9761

Re: Brucellosis and Tuberculosis testing of small ruminant dairy herds

Dear Dairy Producer,

The Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), a document that sets the regulatory standards for Grade A milk manufacturing and processing, has been adopted by reference under Montana Administrative Rule 32.8.101.

Section 8. ANIMAL HEALTH of the PMO outlines the standards for compliance with Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (TB) eradication programs. According to those standards, the department requires the following testing for sheep and goats.

• Brucellosis: The department will allow randomized testing for brucellosis on all animals over one year of age according to the table below based on herd/flock size. Subsequent brucellosis tests need to be done on an annual basis to maintain compliance. Due to available funding for mitigating the risk of brucellosis from the Greater Yellowstone Area, the Department will reimburse private veterinarians to conduct this testing and producers are able to request a 2/head reimbursement.
• Tuberculosis: The department will allow randomized testing for TB on all animals over one year of age according to the table below based on herd/flock size. This approach allows a high certainty of disease freedom while decreasing the expense and time needed to complete testing. An annual retest is not necessary if all non-natural herd additions over 12 months of age are tested prior to addition to the herd/flock.

The following table from the PMO will provide the random sampling size required:

Call Montana Livestock Crimestoppers 800-503-6084