July 2, 2007

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds state cattle producers to obtain movement permit numbers to move cattle between zones (interzone) and to contact Chief Livestock Officials in other states for interstate animal movement requirements. All Michigan cattle must have an official Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tag for movement from any premises in the state.

“Currently a certificate number confirming TB testing status must accompany cattle if movement is to any other zone within Michigan,” said Mike VanderKlok, MDA Bovine TB Program Manager. “Later this summer an actual certificate will be required.”

For interstate movement from the Upper Peninsula, new additions to a cattle herd must be assembled on the farm premises 120 days before movement. In addition, anyone hauling livestock across the Mackinac Bridge, will be directed to an inspection area.

Michigan has “split state status” for bovine TB. The Upper Peninsula is designated as TB free; the northern Lower Peninsula (where bovine TB is established in the deer and cattle) is the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), and; the southern Lower Peninsula is the Modified Accredited Advanced Zone (MAAZ).

To obtain an interzonal movement certification number, cattle producers should contact MDA’s toll-free TB line at (866) 870-5136. Cattle producers will need the following information before they call:

• Premises identification number (recently mailed to every known cattle owner in Michigan).
• Name and physical address of the destination of the cattle to be moved.
• Official RFID ear tag numbers of the animals to be moved.
• Age, gender, and breed of the cattle to be moved.
• The TB test injection date, TB test chart number, and testing veterinarian for any cattle required to be tested prior to movement.

For animals originating from a TB accredited- free herd, producers must provide the accredited herd number and expiration date of the accreditation.