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Committee urges federal action to secure brucellosis vaccine supply
Summary
The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously advanced SJ27, a resolution asking Congress to support expanded domestic production of the RB51 brucellosis vaccine after witnesses described recent supply shortages and impacts on herd health and marketing.
The Senate Agriculture Committee approved Senate Joint Resolution 27 requesting congressional action to bolster U.S. production and supply of brucellosis vaccine (RB51), a key tool for disease control in cattle in Montana’s designated surveillance area.
Sponsor Sen. Willis Curti introduced the resolution, saying the state needs congressional help to expand vaccine production after shortages left producers scrambling last year. Testimony from the Montana Department of Livestock and industry groups described why consistent vaccine availability matters for both animal health and market access.
Mike Hunnycutt, executive officer for the Montana Department of Livestock, said the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem is the last wildlife reservoir for brucellosis in the nation and that Montana uses targeted surveillance and vaccination to prevent spread from elk to cattle. “If you don't get [calf vaccination] done and you're not an official vaccinate, you can run into regulatory problems and you can also run into marketing problems,” Hunnycutt told the committee.
Supporters included the Montana Stockyards Association and the Property and Environment Research Center, which said communities and ranchers suffer when brucellosis spreads and when vaccine supply is unreliable. Montana Farmers Union also urged the committee to advance the resolution.
Committee members asked for clarification of technical terms used in testimony. Hunnycutt defined the DSA as the “designated surveillance area,” the geographic boundary used to require testing and vaccination of cattle before movement out of that region.
The committee approved SJ27 on a voice vote and moved the resolution forward. Committee leaders recorded that proxies were assumed to vote yes; the motion was adopted and the resolution will be forwarded to the full Senate for transmission to Congress.
Votes at a glance
- SJ 27 — Motion: “Do pass on senate joint resolution number 27.” Mover: Sen. Kurzel (moved from the floor). Outcome: approved by voice vote; proxies assumed yes.
