Bovine Brucellosis

After working to eradicate Brucellosis or "Bangs" from cattle for almost 50 years, Texas was declared free of the disease in 2008!

What is Brucellosis?: Brucellosis is a contagious disease of cattle and other ruminant animals that can also affect humans. Although brucellosis can infect other animals, its main threat is to cattle, bison, and swine. The disease in cattle is also known as contagious abortion or "Bang’s disease". In humans, it's known as undulant fever because of the intermittent fever it causes.; In animals, brucellosis can cause decreased milk production, weight loss, loss of young, infertility, and lameness. The disease in cattle is caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus, though other species of Brucella bacteria can cause disease in a variety of other species.; Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread from animals to people, but eradication efforts along with modern sanitary practices and pasteurization of milk products have greatly decreased the frequency of human infections.

Continue management strategies to prevent the introduction or spread of Brucellosis
Don’t buy Brucellosis — abide by testing requirements
Vaccinate replacement heifers — 4 to 12 months of age
Participate in disease surveillance
Report signs of disease — abortions in the herd, weak calves, poor milk production

Due to the severe drought, a number of Texas cattle are currently being moved to other states. Some western states require brucellosis vaccination of cattle prior to entry. To assist producers in meeting those states' entry requirements TAHC is providing a protocol for Texas accredited veterinarians to use. This addresses certain cases where calfhood vaccination (between 4 and 12 months of age) has not been performed and a receiving state requires vaccination for an adult animal. Veterinarians and/or shippers should always check with the state of destination before moving cattle to ensure all entry rules are met.
Protocol for Brucellosis Adult Vaccination of Beef and Dairy Females with RB-51 Vaccine

TAHC News Releases
Date	Title
July 2011	Attention Cattlemen: Changes Announced for Adult Cattle being Sold at Texas Markets
June 2011	TAHC to Stop Paying for Brucellosis Testing at Markets due to a Lack of Funding
April 2011	Cattle Brucellosis Testing Complete in Starr County; Adjacent Herds Test Negative
February 2011	Cattle Brucellosis Found in Herd in Starr County
January 2011	Texas Discovers New Cattle Brucellosis Infected Herd