HELENA - The prestige of Montana's brucellosis free status has now been shattered as livestock producers brace for the second round of testing and, possibly, de-populating their herds for the second time in nearly a year.

It was what everyone in the livestock industry feared, a second case of brucellosis. And now Montana will lose it's class free status, downgrading the state's cattle stock and potentially costing industry producers millions. "It effects how the international community looks at the value of our breeding cattle that we market internationally," said Errol Rice with the Montana Stockgrowers Association. "And it effects the way that other states are going to view the healthiness of our cattle."

An investigation will now begin to test all herds that may have been in contact with the infected cow. The state Department of Livestock says they will attempt to pinpoint whether the disease came from bison or elk, but those tests are often inconclusive. The small outbreak in Bridger last year had many livestock producers taking extra measures to protect their herds.

"We've had a lot of producers come forward and want to do herd plans with the state veterinarian and so I feel our herds are very safe," explained Christian Mackay with the Department of Livestock. "We have safeguards in place. I think we'll be able to get this situation under control relatively quickly."

While this may be potentially devastating for the industry in general there is financial help for those producers specifically involved. "If an when any herds need to be de-populated there will be indemnity funds from USDA APHIS available. It'll be the same appraisal process that we went through last year," Mackay added.

While any silver lining may be hard to find, Montana Stockgrowers do seem thankful that this case was found as early as it was and that no other cattle in the herd tested positive. But they say it further highlights the need for cooperative management of all animals carrying or suffering from the disease.

"We have to address the disease and whether it's in cattle of bison or elk, we have to address brucellosis. And yes, wildlife species and livestock are going to require different management protocols to address the disease but that's where we've got to get to. We've got to reduce the prevalence of this disease in those animals," Rice said.

Animal rights organizations have entered the discussion on bison management. They have expressed outrage at winter depopulation of bison herds, which were found beyond their winter grazing parameters. Many such organizations have pointed fingers at livestock producers for causing bison deaths.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association says ranchers want the wildlife on the landscape but also want them to be better managed for the safety of bison and cattle.