Teds Bison Could Be A Threat To Cattle
Ted Turner’s always wheeling and dealing. Recently he got dealt a blow when a bacterial disease that can be deadly for cattle was discovered in his bison herd. I’m Susan Allen welcome to Open Range I’ll be back with the story. Animal activist applauded Ted Turner last year when he rescued eighty –six Yellowstone bison that were part of a government slaughter effort to protect cattle from brucellosis. What most don't know is that this is a five year reprive for the animals and while Turner keeps his new herd separate from his other four thousand plus bison herd he will sweeten his genetic pool in the deal as he keeps seventy-five percent of the calves the Yellowstone bison produce. Meanwhile, just as Montana officials begin plans to capture five hundred elk to study brucellosis, the same disease was discovered in one of Ted Turner's buffalo. Brucellosis is found only in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming where it poses grave danger to cattle. Infected cattle in turn "affect" interstate beef trade in those three states by incurring federal restrictions on beef. In Yellowstone both bison and elk carry Brucellosis, originally brought to the west by European settlers. The disease causes pregnant cattle to miscarry thus can be devastating to ranchers. All slaughtered Turner ranch bison will be tested for the disease but can still enter the food chain as it poses no health risks to humans. The Montana elk will be studied extensively with the goal to find treatment other than slaughter to protect not only cattle but Yellowstone Elk and bison as well.
