Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:03/22/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:45 AM to 08:53 AM
Brophy
Entz
Place:HCR 0112
Gallegos
Gardner
This Meeting was called to order by
Groff
Senator Isgar
Grossman
Harvey
This Report was prepared by
Hodge
David Beaujon
Hoppe
McFadyen
McKinley
Rose
Solano
Taylor
Tochtrop
White
Curry
Isgar
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Chronic Wasting Disease in Alternative Livestockbriefing only

07:45 AM Chronic Wasting Disease in Alternative Livestock Facilities.

Sheldon Jones, Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), described the department's alternative livestock program that regulates captive deer and elk facilities. He explained that the facilities with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are typically depopulated to control the spread of the disease. He also described efforts to develop a live animal test for CWD to reduce the need for depopulation. Currently, the primary CWD testing method requires an animal to build killed to obtain a tissue sample.

07:49 AM

Dr. Keith Roerh, CDA, explained that the number of alternative livestock facilities in Colorado have declined sharply since the discovery of CWD in domestic deer and elk herds. He also summarized the department's herd plans for quarantined facilities including surveillance, removal of sick animals, controlling feeding practices, and cleaning and manure disposal. Dr. Roerh described the U.S. Department of Agriculture's indemnity program for alternative livestock facilities and expressed concerned about federal funding for CWD control and research.

08:06 AM

Dr. Barry Dyar, Cervid Research and Recovery Institute, described research conducted by his institute to identify and breed CWD resistant elk. This research includes studying the ability of disease resistant animals to survive and reproduce in the wild. He explained that the institute is a nonprofit corporation that relies primarily on private donations.

08:17 AM

Tom Cox, President of the Colorado Elk Breeders Association, described CWD's impact on Colorado's alternative livestock industry.


08:19 AM

Ron Walker, Colorado Elk Breeders Association, described the economic impact of a CWD outbreak in captive deer on his ranch and expressed concern about the Division of Wildlife's CWD control program for wild deer and elk populations.

08:22 AM

Ann Draper, Colorado Elk Breeders Association, described the impact of a CWD outbreak on her ranch and expressed concern about the source of the disease. She also described research that is being conducted on her animals to determine ranching practices that may reduce or prevent the spread of the disease.

08:26 AM

Dave Whitlesey described the economic impact of CWD on his ranch and expressed concern about the DOW's CWD control program for wild deer and elk populations.

08:29 AM

Dr. Terry Spraker, Colorado State University, described research to develop a live-animal test for CWD and identified the benefits of improved testing methods. Currently, the most accurate test for CWD requires that the animal be killed prior to obtaining a tissue sample.

08:36 AM

Tom Cox returned to respond to questions from the committee regarding alternative livestock facilities in the Gunnison valley.

08:39 AM

Dr. Roerh returned to describe the herd management practices that have controlled disease outbreaks in cattle and other animals. He explained that similar programs may reduce the spread of CWD in alternative livestock facilities.

08:40 AM

Mike Miller, Division of Wildlife, responded to questions from the committee regarding research on the spread of CWD.

08:51 AM

Ms. Draper returned to describe her efforts to negotiate a herd management plan for her facility with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Division of Wildlife.

08:53 AM

The meeting adjourned.