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Senate bill targets tick-borne cattle diseases with expanded research

The Kansas Livestock Association says a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate could strengthen the fight at against tick-related diseases in cattle.

 CEO Matt Teagarden says the Asian Longhorn Tick and theilieria orientalis (OR-ee-uhn-tallis continue to create mortality and morbidity issues. “In Kansas and across the country, they are struggling with what to do and feeling helpless in that. This bill that focuses some resources towards important research is really important.”

The Emerging Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act, introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (KS), Eric Schmitt (MO) Jim Justice (WV) would designate the issue in statute as a high priority-research area at USDA. Theileria orientalis is a tick-born parasite that can cause anemia, weakness and death.

The bill also authorizes USDA to create grants within pre-existing research programs to help develop vaccines, therapeutics, and treatments. Teagarden tells Brownfield, “We’d like to have some options to treat or some antibiotics even though those treat from a different angle. That’s still a helpless feeling if you’ve got a set of cattle that are carrying the parasite.” 

Teagarden says the legislation could help the industry understand how cattle are impacted as they move from the East Coast to the Midwest. “On the East Coast where it’s maybe endemic, what is it that allows those cattle to continue to thrive in the presence of the tick and theileria? What is it about as those calves move west, is the stress of that move trigger that underlying condition?”

Teagarden says the measure could also help improve biosecurity efforts. “Recognizing that there are some risks here. Keeping sets of cattle that are at a higher risk – keeping them separate as you process those cattle. Having single use needles. Certainly, if you have a mixed cattle or native cattle that you’re processing cattle, this certainly becomes critical.”

Companion legislation has not been introduced in the U.S. House.

Matt Teagarden: