2009 News Releases
Yellowstone County Rabies Quarantine Extended
June 25, 2009
A rabies quarantine in Yellowstone County has been extended through August 20 after a skunk tested positive for the disease. [More]
Vaccination Reduces Potential for West Nile Virus in Horses
June 18, 2009
Cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in horses are down 80-plus percent from peak highs as equine owners learn to combat the disease, and animal health officials are encouraging horse owners to vaccinate their animals against the mosquito-borne disease. [More]
Livestock Department Rescinds 2007 Rules for Stallion Imports and EVA
May 18, 2009
The Montana Department of Livestock has rescinded a 2007 rule concerning the importation of stallions and testing for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), and a new rule will take effect on Monday, May 18, the department announced today. [More]
MDOL to Hold Town Hall Meetings, Collect Producer Input on New Trichomoniasis Rule
May 13, 2009
The Montana Department of Livestock has scheduled a series of town hall listening sessions around the state to hear what cattle producers think about the department’s plans for amending the current rule on trichomoniasis, a disease that can cause economically devastating reproductive losses in cattle. [More]
New Brucellosis Testing Requirements Take Effect Friday, May 15
May 13, 2009
New brucellosis testing requirements will take effect Friday, May 15, under the state’s Brucellosis Action Plan (BAP), the Board of Livestock formally decided today – and the cost of testing will be covered by an appropriation passed by the 2009 Legislature. [More]
Brucellosis Action To Take Effect May 15; Testing May Be Required in Seven Counties
April 30, 2009
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) today announced it expects its Brucellosis Action Plan to be implemented by May 15. [More]
Dawson County Rabies Quarantine Extended
March 26, 2009
A rabies quarantine in Dawson County has been extended through May 25 after two dogs were potentially exposed to the disease by an infected skunk. The county was originally quarantined on January 28 after a skunk tested positive for the disease. [More]
Sweetgrass County Rabies Quarantine Extended
March 18, 2009
A rabies quarantine in Sweetgrass County has been extended through May 18 after four dogs and two cats were potentially exposed to the disease by an infected skunk. [More]
Yellowstone County Rabies Quarantine Extended
March 18, 2009
A rabies quarantine in Yellowstone County has been extended for a second time after two skunks trapped by local animal control officers tested positive for the disease. [More]
Wolf Depredation Board Seeks Board Member
March 10, 2009
Montana’s Livestock Loss Reduction and Mitigation Board is seeking a new board member to fill the remaining term of recently deceased board member, Hilliard McDonald. [More]
Yellowstone County Rabies Quarantine Extended
March 4, 2009
A rabies quarantine in Yellowstone County has been extended after a skunk tested positive for the disease. [More]
Sweet Grass County Quarantined for Rabies
February 19, 2009
Sweet Grass County has been placed under a 60-day quarantine for rabies, effective February 13, 2009, after a skunk that tested positive for the disease was killed by two pet dogs. [More]
Lewis & Clark County Quarantined for Rabies
February 19, 2009
Lewis & Clark County has been placed under a 60-day quarantine for rabies, effective February 13, 2009, after an unvaccinated semi-feral cat in East Helena produced a presumptive-positive test for the disease. [More]
Montana Mare Released from CEM Quarantine
February 19, 2009
A quarter horse mare in Montana that was exposed to contagious equine metritis (CEM), a highly contagious venereal disease of horses that causes temporary infertility and spontaneous abortion, has been released from quarantine. [More]
Stillwater County Quarantined for Rabies
February 12, 2009
Stillwater County has been placed under a 60-day quarantine for rabies, effective February 11, 2009, after a skunk that tested positive for the disease was killed by two pet dogs. [More]
Brucellosis Action Plan meeting set for Park County
January 13, 2009
The Montana Department of Livestock will discuss its brucellosis action plan with Park County livestock producers at an informational meeting on January 21, 1:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds in Livingston. [More]
Informational Meetings on Brucellosis Action Plan Scheduled
January 8, 2009
UPDATED to include date and location of Park County meeting on January 21, and to update location for Carbon County meeting on February 2.
The Montana Department of Livestock will discuss its brucellosis action plan with livestock producers at a series of informational meetings in mid-January and early February. [More]
Montana Mare Quarantined for CEM
January 7, 2009
A quarter horse mare in Montana has been quarantined after exposure to contagious equine metritis (CEM), a highly contagious venereal disease of horses that causes temporary infertility and spontaneous abortion. [More]
Brucellosis Action Plan meeting set for Gallatin County
January 7, 2009
Livestock producers in Gallatin County will get an opportunity to review the Montana Department of Livestock's (MDOL) brucellosis action plan at the Gallatin Beef Producers annual educational luncheon and business meeting on January 13. [More]
2008 News Releases
Interagency Partners Sign Bison Adaptive Management Plan
December 17, 2008
The Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) partners on Wednesday signed an Adaptive Management Plan that outlines specific goals, objectives, management actions, and measures for bison management. [More]
Board of Livestock Approves Revised Brucellosis Action Plan
November 21, 2008
The Montana Board of Livestock approved a revised version of the state's brucellosis action plan, which provides a blueprint for regaining the state's Class-Free Status as quickly as possible, at its meeting in Helena earlier this week. [More]
Livestock Loss Board Approves $28,000 in Wolf Depredation Claims
October 30, 2008
The Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board paid out $28,703 in wolf depredation claims at its semi-annual meeting in Helena last week. [More]
MDOL extends comment period on draft brucellosis plan
October 10, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock is extending the public comment period on its draft Brucellosis Action Plan by three weeks through Saturday, November 1. [More]
Cooperative Effort Results in Arrest for Cattle Theft
October 8, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) today reported that 48-year-old Richard Dean Holen of Poplar has been arrested on eight counts of felony theft. [More]
State Looking for Brucellosis Task Force Members
October 7, 2008
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock are looking for ranchers and wildlife enthusiasts to serve on a task force designed to develop solutions to the spread of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area. [More]
MDOL Seeks Public Comment on Draft Brucellosis Action Plan
September 25, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock has released a draft Brucellosis Action Plan to help the state regain its Brucellosis Class Free status. The plan is open for public comment through October 10. [More]
Core-Mark, MDOL Agreement Puts Milk Labeling Litigation on Hold
September 25, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) and Core-Mark International have agreed to temporarily suspend their dispute over the state's 12-day milk labeling requirements with hopes that pending litigation can be avoided. [More]
Board of Livestock Holds the Line on Per Capita Fees
September 24, 2008
For the second straight year, the Montana Board of Livestock has decided there will be no increase in per capita fees. [More]
MDOL Announces New On-Line Services
September 5, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock has launched two new online eGovernment services that will help livestock producers save time and money. [More]
USDA downgrades Montana’s Brucellosis-Free Status
September 3, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock today announced that the USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has officially downgraded the state’s brucellosis status from Class Free to Class A. [More]
MDOL Tackles 12-Day Milk Labeling Violations
August 29, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock is warning milk retailers and distributors that “dual-dated” milk – cartons of milk with two different expiration dates – cannot legally be sold within the state, and that selling dual-dated milk may subject retailers to penalties. [More]
Rabies warning issued for Glendive mobile home park
August 19, 2008
Residents of the Casitas Del Rio Mobile Home Park and surrounding areas in Glendive are being warned about a source for potential exposure to rabies. One dog at the mobile home park, located west of the Yellowstone River on Highway 16, is dead from rabies, and three other animals have had varying levels of exposure to the disease. [More]
MDOL Proposes Brand Fee Increase
August 18, 2008
In an effort to keep pace with operational costs, the Montana Department of Livestock is proposing to increase brand fees and implement a graduated fee for grazing permits. The proposal will be considered by the Board of Livestock at its next meeting, September 21-22 in Room 152 of the Capital Building in Helena. [More]
MDOL, Gallatin Commissioners Reopen Spanish Creek Road
August 14, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) and Gallatin County Commissioners will be reopening the popular and heavily used Spanish Creek Road Friday evening. [More]
Sheep producers warned to be on the lookout for bluetongue
August 6, 2008
Animal health officials in Montana and Wyoming are working cooperatively to warn sheep producers about the potentially devastating impact of bluetongue. [More]
Anthrax strikes bison on Turner's Flying D Ranch
July 30, 2008
Twenty-five domestic bison on Ted Turner's Flying D Ranch in Gallatin County have been killed by naturally occurring anthrax, according to animal health officials with the Montana Department of Livestock. [More]
Vaccination can prevent West Nile Virus in horses
July 29, 2008
Montana's animal health officials are encouraging horse owners to vaccinate their animals against West Nile Virus (WNV). "Montana has a problem," said Dr. Jeanne Rankin, assistant state veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock. "For whatever reason, most people are not including West Nile in vaccination programs for their horses." [More]
Python ear tag approved in Montana
July 28, 2008
Just in time for the midge and biting gnat season, the PYthon ear tag has been approved for use on sheep in Montana. [More]Wolf compensation & mitigation program now accepts on-line donations
July 27, 2008
The Montana Livestock Loss Reduction and Mitigation Program (LLRMP) , which reimburses livestock producers for confirmed losses to wolf depredation, is now accepting online donations at http://liv.mt.gov/. [More]
DNA testing points to elk as likely source of brucellosis
July 24, 2008
Fingerprinting tests, or genotyping, from the brucellosis-infected cow found in Paradise Valley earlier this year have identified elk as the most likely source of the disease. [More]
Brucellosis Investigation Nears Completion
July 17, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) today announced that it has completed testing on all of the high risk cattle, and on a majority of all cattle, associated with a brucellosis-positive cow found in late May. [More]
Second Brucellosis Case Found in Livestock; State to Lose Class Free Status
June 9, 2008
A cow from the Paradise Valley has tested positive for brucellosis, and will cost the state its brucellosis-free status. [More]
MDOL Takes Bison Home
May 29, 2008
Acting under directives from the Montana Board of Livestock, and with the cooperation of Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) partners, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) today conducted a bison hazing operation on Horse Butte peninsula west of Yellowstone National Park. [More]
Sherman Takes Board of Horse Racing Reins
May 16, 2008
Montana native Ryan Sherman has taken the reins of the Montana Board of Horse Racing, which regulates horse racing within the state, as its new executive secretary and is now managing the board's day to day operations. [More]
Montana Department of Livestock Captures 51 Bison
March 4, 2008
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) captured 51 bison Tuesday at its Horse Butte capture facility on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. [More]
New Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board Meets
February 13, 2008
Members of the Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board (LLRMB), which oversees the state's new wolf depredation reimbursement program, learned about the history of wolf management in Montana and drafted administrative rules at its first official meeting Monday in Helena. [More]
Gardiner Area Bison Hunt to Reopen February 9
February 8, 2008
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock will reopen the bison hunt in the Gardiner area beginning Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. [More]
FWP, DOL Temporarily Suspend Bison Hunt in Gardiner Area
February 7, 2008
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock have temporarily suspended the state's bison hunt in the Gardiner area, effective immediately. [More]
Livestock Owners Reminded to Pay Per Capita Fees
January 18, 2008
It's time for livestock owners to start counting. On February 1, livestock owners in the state are required to report the number of livestock they own to county or state revenue offices. [More]
