Cattle Officials Discuss Disease Outbreak

July 19, 2002

More than 60 cattle producers, veterinarians, government agency representatives and staffs from state and national cattle organizations addressed the handling of possible animal disease outbreaks during a special session at the 2002 Cattle Industry Summer Conference. The meeting was chaired by Gary Wilson, an Ohio cattle producer and chair of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Health and Well-Being Committee.

Joseph Annelli, DVM, chief veterinarian, emergency programs, with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), gave the group an overview of recent disease outbreaks, current challenges, response systems and disease eradication. Annelli also addressed the importance of educating producers to recognize the signs of possible animal diseases and what steps to take if possible symptoms are observed.

Participants discussed the need for cattle producers in each state to help drive the process. A key theme was that government agencies are understaffed and under funded and it is important for the industry and producers to get involved and take the lead.

Dee Ellis, DVM, Texas Animal Health Commission, noted that it is important for the industry to drive management plans to the producer level, saying this is done by holding planning meetings, conducting test exercises and playing a role in policy development.

Speakers at the meeting agreed that to protect animals and the industry there must be an integrated management approach involving federal, state and local agencies, industry organizations and producers. Communications plays a key role, they said, requiring a relationship between the disease management plans and communications plans to lessen the economic impact of a disease outbreak to the industry. For example, communications both within the industry and externally through the media is a critical part of the response process.

During the meeting, producers and veterinarians from various states discussed what is being done in their areas and who is involved. Most said good work was being accomplished on all levels, but more could be done.

"I'm very pleased with what we are doing for response and prevention," said Lynn Cornwell, a Glasgow, MT, beef producer and immediate past president of the NCBA. "But I'm very concerned about how we communicate the disease outbreak possibilities to the industry and the public."