The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed a case of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a beef herd from Alcona County, within Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ). The disease was identified through routine annual whole herd surveillance testing. This marks the 83rd bovine TB case in Michigan cattle since 1998 and the first detected since January 2022.
State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland emphasized the importance of regular surveillance testing in detecting new cases and reducing the risk of disease transmission. Managing bovine TB remains a complex challenge, requiring collaboration among hunters, livestock producers, researchers, industry stakeholders, animal health professionals, and government agencies.
Bovine TB is a bacterial disease that affects mammals, including humans. It is present in free-ranging white-tailed deer in specific areas of northeastern lower Michigan and can spread between deer and cattle. Due to this ongoing risk, Michigan maintains two TB zones: the Modified Accredited Zone, covering a four-county region in northern lower Michigan, and the Accredited Free Zone, which encompasses the rest of the state.
While state and federal agencies continue efforts to control the disease, maintaining healthy deer and cattle populations through regulated hunting in northeastern Michigan remains a critical strategy.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/bovineTB.
