Four cases of anthrax have now been found in Grant County beef cattle. The cases were all confirmed by the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
“The cases are a reminder to livestock producers to take action to protect their animals from the disease, especially in areas with a past history of the disease,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress said. “With the weather patterns we’ve had this year, conditions are right for the disease to occur and it’s likely we’ll have more cases.”
Effective anthrax vaccines are readily available, but it takes about a week for immunity to be established, and it must be administered annually for continued protection. Producers should monitor their herds for unexplained deaths and work with their veterinarian to ensure appropriate samples are collected and submitted to a diagnostic lab to give the best chance of obtaining a diagnosis.
Source: nd.gov
Photo Credit: gettyimages-pamwalker68
Categories: North Dakota, Livestock, Beef Cattle