Michigan cattle and bison owners will be impacted by proposed boundary changes

East Lansing - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA)'s Animal Industry Division today presented information to the Michigan Commission on Agriculture on the proposal to shrink the bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) to the high-risk northeastern Lower Peninsula counties of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle, and those portions of Ogemaw and Iosco counties within the MAZ where the disease is endemic in wild free-ranging deer - beginning the public comment period on this proposal.

"Public comment is an important part of the zoning process," said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. "The dairy and beef industries need to be aware of the changes and take every opportunity to comment on the proposal before it becomes law."

Cattle and bison producers will be impacted by a change in interzonal movement restrictions; the need for wildlife risk mitigation in certain areas; and risk-based surveillance which is set up to trace cattle that may have been exposed to infected wildlife. These changes are designed to improve market access for producers and will help eradicate bovine TB from Michigan.

MDA will accept comments on the proposal to change the MAZ zonal boundary until August 21, 2009. The proposed zoning order and comment form may be found on the internet at www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases and on the MDA website at www.michigan.gov/mda .

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