USDA declared Texas cattle free of brucellosis, making all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands simultaneously designated Class Free status for the first time in the 74-year history of the brucellosis program.

Class Free status is based on a state finding no known brucellosis in cattle for the 12 months preceding designation as Class Free. If brucellosis is found in more than one herd of cattle in a brucellosis free state within a two-year period, the state is downgraded to Class A status. In May 2007, Montana discovered brucellosis in a herd of cattle, potentially jeopardizing its free status.

The classifications for brucellosis are as follows: Class Free, Class A, Class B and Class C. Restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves Class Free status.

"We must now focus our efforts on eradicating brucellosis from the free-ranging elk and bison populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area in order to protect our national cattle herd against future outbreaks of this disease," said Bruce Knight, under secretary for USDA's marketing and regulatory programs in a news release.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that causes decreased milk production, weight loss, infertility, loss of young and lameness in cattle, elk and bison. The disease is contagious and can, though rarely, affect humans. There is no known treatment for brucellosis.

By Janie Gabbett on 2/4/2008 for Meatingplace.com