Anthrax has been confirmed in South Dakota livestock for the first time this year. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says 8 cows died from a herd of 87 unvaccinated cattle in Clark County.

He says weather conditions this year have been conducive to the risk of anthrax.

Following the Clark county detection of anthrax, the disease also has showed up in a Bon Homme County herd where 4 adult cattle died.
Oedekoven recommends producers concerned about anthrax should contact their local veterinarian and vaccinate their animals.

Oedekoven says it’s not unusual to have one or two cases of anthrax show up. He says the last time there was a major outbreak of the disease in South Dakota was in 2005 when there was 55 cases.