The Montana Department of Livestock will hold meetings across Eastern Montana next week to discuss a proposed mandatory brucellosis vaccination for all heifers.

Having the mandatory vaccination would assure importers of Montana cattle that the state was doing everything possible to keep cattle brucellosis-free, according to Marty Zaluski, state veterinarian.

The state does not require cattle to be vaccinated for brucellosis except in Gallatin, Madison, Park and Beaverhead counties.

Wyoming and Idaho do have official calfhood vaccination policies, and there is a concern Montana could be perceived as doing less to control brucellosis if it doesn’t join in.

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