Wednesday, March 16, 2016

MSA APHIS Brucella Abortus Select Agent List Comment

March 14, 2016

Docket # APHIS -2014-0095
Regulatory Analysis & Development
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8

4700 River Road, Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238


Dr. Isaac:

The Montana Sportsmen Alliance, the voice of reason for the Montana hunters, anglers and conservationists appreciates the ability to comment on this very important issue. MSA strongly supports the removal of brucella abortus from the APHIS overlap select agent list.

MSA recognizes the hardship to Montana’s cattle producers when brucellosis is positively diagnosed. Private landowners, are our partners in stewardship of our publicly owned wildlife resources. MSA is equally concerned of transmission of brucellosis from domestic livestock to our wildlife, such as bison and elk. The fear of brucellosis transmission has greatly affected the natural distribution of our wildlife across the landscape and has caused conflicts between the livestock industry and wildlife advocates.

Reducing the above conflicts could be greatly affected by more research; therefore, being able to produce a more effective livestock vaccine is the ultimate outcome. With brucella abortus listed on the select agent list MSA strongly feels the overall production of a better vaccine is greatly hampered. In closing MSA feels removal of brucella abortus could be safely accomplished and would allow better, more thorough research. The end product could be an improved cattle vaccine, which would benefit Montana’s livestock industry as well as our publicly owned wildlife. MSA again, appreciates the ability to comment on issues of importance.


Respectfully submitted,

MSA Leadership Group:
John Borgreen, Great Falls
Sam Milodragovich, Butte
Joe Perry, Conrad
J.W. Westman, Park City
Robert Wood, Hamilton
Jeff Herbert, Helena
Steve Schindler, Glasgow

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