USDA Buys Texas Dairy

July 29, 2002

In an effort to "create a buffer zone" and prevent the introduction of bovine tuberculosis, USDA is authorizing the purchase of dairy cattle operations and a processing plant in the El Paso, Texas, area. An interim rule, published in Friday's Federal Register, allows USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in cooperation with the state of Texas, to purchase these El Paso area dairy operations over the next two years.

All owners must agree to dispose of their herds, close existing dairy operations and refrain from establishing new cattle breeding operations in the area in order to qualify for the buyout. The cost will be approximately $44 million. This purchase will create a buffer zone between tuberculosis-infected dairy cattle in Juarez, Mexico, and U.S. dairy operations, says USDA.

Despite ongoing testing of large dairy herds in the El Paso area and the removal of tuberculosis infected animals from those herds, reinfection of U.S. dairy herds continues to occur. Owners of other animals in the United States destroyed because of tuberculosis will continue to be eligible for indemnity in accordance with existing regulations. There are proposed regulations that would allow a payment of fair market value up to $3,000 per infected animal.

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious, infectious and communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other species, including humans. The disease causes lesions of the lung, bone and other body parts, causes weight loss and general debilitation and can be fatal.

The latest action is part of the expansion of USDA's bovine tuberculosis eradication program that started in October 2000 when $60 million in emergency funds was transferred to APHIS to eradicate the disease from the United States. Those funds are being used to address tuberculosis in wildlife populations in Michigan, to eliminate infected and high-risk herds in the El Paso area, to assist Mexico with its tuberculosis eradication program and to deal with the international trade aspects of the disease.

Texas, Michigan and California are the only remaining states with animals positive for tuberculosis. This interim rule is effective upon publication in the Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Sept. 24. Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 00-105-1, regulatory analysis and development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov.

Comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include name and address in the message and use Docket No. 00-105-1 on the subject line. Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.