For decades, the USDA has worked to control Brucella in livestock populations.

"There are figures that say, back when we first started working on this that in 1952 that production losses from Brucella amounted to about $400 million dollars. Today it's less than $1 million.

The USDA's top veterinarian, Jack Shere, said in 2020, there are more tools to fight the disease.

"We vaccinate the cattle and so we know that we have protection for most of them," Shere said. "Now if cattle are not vaccinated and they are exposed to say, bison or elk, that have this disease especially when the elk or bison are birthing their calves; then the cattle can of course pick it up if they are unvaccinated."

In an effort to find out more about Brucella and while animals, USDA is gearing up to allow researchers to test animals in enclosures outdoors.

"This is pretty groundbreaking and I think we're looking forward to the research that will come as a result of this policy change," Shere continued.

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