MDOL Announces Animal Health Disease Preparedness Meetings

• May 14 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2025

CONTACT:

Dr. Brenee Peterson, MT Dept. of Livestock, (406) 444-2939, brenee.peterson@mt.gov 
Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, MT Dept. of Livestock, (406) 444-0782, tszymanski@mt.gov

MDOL Announces Animal Health Disease Preparedness Meetings

Helena, Mont. –  The Montana Department of Livestock is holding meetings across Montana to discuss emergency disease preparedness and response with livestock producers, veterinarians, and stakeholders. The detection of a disease such as Foot and Mouth Disease or African Swine Fever in the United States would result in substantial disruptions to the livestock industry in Montana. These meetings provide an opportunity for the Department to engage stakeholders, provide information regarding disease response, and to ensure that our state plans fit the unique structure of our industry. Anyone with connections to the livestock industry is encouraged to attend.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

In 2024, MDOL received a National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPREP) grant for the development of a statewide communication plan for use during a large-scale disease outbreak. NADPREP grants are supported through the 2018 Farm Bill.

The focus of the grant and the upcoming meetings is how the Department will handle a 72-hour national stop movement order for animals and animal products, as well as the subsequent resumption of movement. The purpose of a national standstill on animal movements is to allow time for state and federal animal health officials to determine the scope of an outbreak and get measures in place to reduce the risk of further disease spread.

Given the potential impacts of a stop movement on operations and businesses, and because of the potential for animal welfare concerns, discussion is needed to ensure a full understanding of potential issues.

“Montana’s livestock industry is as large and diverse as our state’s geography,” said Brenee Peterson, emergency preparedness veterinarian for the Department. “Our goal is to develop a state specific plan that includes consideration for how our industry functions and the high-level of connectivity we share with both regional and international partners.”

Meetings will include interactive discussion with attendees to identify specific challenges that will need to be addressed and resources and solutions that can be employed during a large-scale disease outbreak. The information collected will be combined into a statewide plan.

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP for any of the meetings, please contact Dr. Brenee Peterson at brenee.peterson@mt.gov or 406-444-9312.

The mission of the Montana Department of Livestock is to control and eradicate animal diseases, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from theft and predatory animals. For more information, visit https://liv.mt.gov. 

For more information on biosecurity, please visit the USDA website at  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources

For information on human health concerns and HPAI, please visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html