State wildlife officials are prepared to test wild animals if bovine tuberculosis is found in a southwestern North Dakota beef cattle herd.

A cow from the herd recently tested positive at a Minnesota meat processing plant, so the whole herd is being quarantined and tested.

Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the state Game and Fish Department, says bovine TB can spread to wild animals like deer and elk, which can in turn spread it to other cattle herds. He says the department is closely monitoring the herd tests, which are likely to take a couple of weeks.

- Associated Press