A New Brucellosis Case Was Found In Montana

I think it is safe to say ranching is a pretty big deal here in Montana. You hear it all the time that there are more cows than people in this state. With that in mind, certain livestock diseases tend to grab attention fast when they show up in headlines or local conversations. Recently, ranchers and ag officials had reason to pause after a new case of brucellosis was confirmed in Gallatin County.

According to a Montana-based news outlet, this marks the 2nd confirmed case in the state for 2025. Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that mainly affects cattle but can also be found in wildlife like elk and bison. It is considered a zoonotic disease, which means it can infect humans. The good news is the risk to the general public remains low.

State livestock officials emphasize that brucellosis is not considered a food safety issue when it comes to meat or pasteurized dairy products. The main concern for people would be drinking raw milk. If you are drinking the pasteurization stuff, you’re good to go. For ranchers, the disease can be far more serious. If it spreads within a herd, brucellosis can lead to reproductive issues, and that can have long-term economic effects on ranching.

The recent Gallatin County case was identified through Montana’s Department of Livestock surveillance program, which has been in place since 2010. On average, the state has identified roughly one affected herd per year since the program began.

In this case, the infected cow was humanely euthanized, and the rest of the herd was placed under quarantine. While no rancher wants to hear the word brucellosis, the system in place appears to be doing exactly what it was designed to do and was caught early enough.