Paraná reinforces actions against brucellosis and tuberculosis to advance milk exports.

The fight against brucellosis and tuberculosis, bacterial diseases that impact milk production, remains a priority for strengthening animal health in Paraná. According to data from the Paraná Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapar), the state recorded 98 outbreaks and 333 confirmed cases of brucellosis and 154 outbreaks and 817 cases of tuberculosis by the end of October. Prevention measures were the topic of the meeting of the Technical Commission (CT) for Dairy Cattle Farming of the Faep System, held on the 17th.

Despite being ancient, few countries have managed to completely eliminate these diseases. They are silent and endemic, which drastically increases the costs of veterinary services. In Paraná, the State Program for the Control and Eradication of Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (PECEBT), created in 2001 and implemented the following year, aims to lower the prevalence and incidence of these diseases. “Having our herd immune to these diseases is another step towards enabling the export of our milk. This would be another way to overcome the crisis the sector is facing,” emphasizes the interim president of the Faep System, Ágide Eduardo Meneguette. “We are working together with other entities and our rural producers to eliminate brucellosis and tuberculosis from our herd,” he adds.

Photo: Disclosure/OP Rural Archive

Despite the fact that the vaccination rate for calves in Paraná reaches 75.3% of the herd, above the national average (71.8%), it is necessary to expand efforts. This is because the ideal rate recommended by health authorities is above 80%. “Currently, we are at an average level. Paraná needs to be above 80% to be considered excellent. Only above 80% for ten years can we even consider eradicating the diseases,” emphasizes Marta Freitas, Agricultural Defense Inspector at Adapar. “The biggest barrier to milk exports is herd health. This will certainly be more strictly demanded by other countries. Therefore, we need to work together to face this challenge,” she affirms.

To date, the state has only 119 properties certified as free from or monitored for both diseases. Despite the low number, the three states in the Southern region account for 981 of the certified properties in the country.

The Adapar inspector also reinforced the precautions that producers must take when faced with a seropositive animal. “Infected animals must be isolated and removed from milk production, and slaughter must occur within 30 days. The entire herd must be tested. It is worth noting that the movement of animals is prohibited while the herd is undergoing sanitation,” explains Marta.

Furthermore, for milk exports to become viable for producers in Paraná, necessary measures include increasing the number of certified farms, guaranteeing payment for quality and health, raising the vaccination rate above 80%, and allocating more investment in biosecurity, animal welfare, nutrition, and health. "Since we plan to export, vaccination coverage is a criterion for this initiative," reinforces Eduardo Lucacin, president of the Dairy Cattle Technical Committee of the Faep System.