Dear Editor:
Brandon Butler is incorrect in his recent article about an Iowa deer farm whose animals were found to have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). He claims the farm chose not to participate in the state's voluntary CWD program. In fact, the farm was participating in the program, and its hunting ranch continuously tested all animals harvested on the property for CWD.
Butler claims that this incident is proof that CWD can spread by deer being transported. However, he does not ask the obvious question: How did CWD get onto this farm in the first place? The breeding facility had been a closed herd for 10 years when CWD was found, meaning no outside animals had been introduced to the herd, and had been testing for 10 years with no positives. It seems obvious that the transportation of deer did not cause CWD to spread onto the farm. In fact, the Iowa DNR admitted in court testimony that CWD has been in the Iowa free-ranging deer for some time, causing no harm.
CWD was found on the farm because the farm was testing for it - as are deer and elk farms across the country. They are looking for CWD. However, state wildlife agencies hardly conduct any testing for CWD - it is generally less than 1 percent of a state's deer population. It's quite possible that CWD is being spread by free-ranging animals in many areas, but that we don't realize it because no state agency is testing the wild herd seriously for it.
Butler also scoffs at the indemnity program that provided the farmers compensation for the government requiring their animals to be put down. However, the program is similar to other indemnity programs for livestock diseases, such as scrapie or bovine tuberculosis. The government kills someone's animals in order to prevent the spread of disease, and in return, offers compensation for the loss of property. Imagine if the government could take someone's property to build a road without offering compensation - that'd be an abuse of power.
Butler should focus on something more productive than attacking a regulated and testing-focused industry.