Cattle industry officials call the the coming status change a huge set-back. Livestock producers say they've fulfilled their end of the bargain, this cow was part of a herd that had been vaccinated twice and tested regularly. Area ranchers say they take several proactive steps in protecting their animals. But they say the state is not.

Errol Rice with the Montana Stockgrowers Association says, "You have industry being proactive and the state of Montana being lackadaisical on managing bison on the west side and you have a wildlife managing agency that refuses to acknowledge the risk that the elk pose to the livestock industry."

In a statement released Monday, Governor Brian Schweitzer pushes the idea of a split-state status, segregating Yellowstone area ranchers into a class of their own.

Bill Bullard with R-Calf here in Billings says the discovery is a huge disappointment. Often states will prevent cattle being shipped to them from states with cases of Brucellosis, so Bullard says Montana will be greatly affected.

"The majority of cattle in Montana are ultimately shipped to feedlots in other states and slaughtered in other states as well." Bullard says the full affect of the disease and status change is not yet known.

Brucellosis was found last year in a Bridger herd. Then the state officials said they would increase hazing efforts but would not test bison found beyond their summer grazing grounds.