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Cattle industry urges additional investments in research to protect animal health

With the rising threat of tick-borne illnesses and New World screwworm, protecting animal health remains a priority for cattle producers.

Mike Deering is the executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. “Making sure that both at the state and federal level that we are prepared to deal with those challenges and that we do not disrupt the speed of commerce,” he says.  “But also that we can look people in the eye and guarantee that the cattle supply is safe, that the beef supply is safe.”

He tells Brownfield investing in research is a necessity to provide producers with the tools needed to protect their herds.  Deering says when it comes to the farm bill, the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service doesn’t get enough attention.  “We’ve got to have research to deal with these imminent threats, New World screwworm, tick-borne illnesses, whatever it is,” he says. “We have to have those experts in place. We have to maintain the integrity of the research system in our federal government.”

Nineteen states, including Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee, have confirmed detections of Asian longhorned ticks which causes Theileriosis, a tick-borne illness that affects cattle. 

New World screwworm has NOT been detected in the United States.  

AUDIO: Mike Deering, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association