(Sioux Falls, SD) — Anthrax remains prevalent among cattle in the region. The disease was confirmed as the cause of death for an animal from North Dakota that died at an auction barn in South Dakota.
Dr. Beth Thompson, state veterinarian for South Dakota, says the dead animal was found after the sale, but before all livestock had been loaded and taken to their next destinations. A vet at the sale barn quickly sent samples to the SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Brookings for testing. Thompson would not say which livestock auction barn reported the dead animal that prompted the testing. She did say a consistent herd vaccination protocol is important to keep livestock free of disease.
North Dakota State Veterinarian Ethan Andress has confirmed that the anthrax was from an Adams County beef herd, and that one animal died as a result of the disease. Last year, 24 cases of anthrax were reported in North Dakota, all in Adams, Grant and Hettinger counties.
The disease is caused by a bacteria that can lie dormant in the ground for decades and become active under weather conditions including drought, flooding and heavy rainfall.
An anthrax factsheet is available on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website at www.ndda.nd.gov/diseases/
