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DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK

301 NORTH ROBERTS

PO BOX 202001

HELENA, MONTANA 59620-2001

PHONE: (406) 444-7323

FAX: (406) 444-1929

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1019_291_1427_633.jpg" alt="Image" width="16%" /></div>


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:


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Herd/Flock Size</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Sampling Size</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Herd/Flock Size</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Sampling Size</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>20</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>20</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>500</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>82</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>50</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>41</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>600</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>83</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>100</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>59</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>700</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>84</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>150</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>67</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>800</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>85</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>200</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>72</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1000</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>86</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>250</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>75</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1400</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>87</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>300</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>77</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>1800</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>88</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>350</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>79</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>4000</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>89</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>400</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>80</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>10000</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>89</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>450</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>81</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>100000</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>90</td></tr></table>

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# STATE OF MONTANA GREG GIANFORTE, GOVERNOR

To comply with these requirements, please plan on conducting an annual herd test for brucellosis, and an annual/initial test for tuberculosis prior to licensure, and by December 31 of each year, according to the statistical random sampling described above. Please have your veterinarian contact the department and forward your herd results to the Milk and Egg Bureau at  milkegg@mt.gov.

Questions should be directed to your Sanitarian. Rosemary Hickey 406-544-4251, Alex Dachs 406-593-1384, or Job Greenall 406-698-5850.

Thank you for your contribution in provide safe and wholesome milk and milk products to Montana.

Sincerely,

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_202_933_912_1182.jpg" alt="Image" width="27%" /></div>


Martin Zaluski, DVM

Montana Department of Livestock

Animal Health Division Administrator