Brucellosis; Increased Indemnity for Cattle and Bison

We are amending the regulations governing Federal indemnity paid under the brucellosis eradication program to increase the amount of indemnity that may be paid for certain cattle and bison destroyed because of brucellosis. This action will accelerate the eradication of brucellosis from the United States by giving owners sufficient financial incentive to destroy brucellosis-exposed cattle and bison by promptly depopulating brucellosis-affected herds. A number of owners of cattle and bison are reluctant to depopulate their affected herds, thereby increasing the risk of disease spread in the eradication program's last scheduled year.