S. 5253 — Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act

This section states findings that ticks parasitizing livestock, including the invasive Asian longhorned tick, have spread to more States and counties, that tick-borne diseases such as bovine anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and bovine theileriosis cause anemia, reproductive losses, and death in cattle with no approved U.S. vaccines or treatments for several, and that expanded research and extension activities are needed to improve detection, reduce producer losses, and strengthen livestock resilience.

This section adds emerging tick-borne livestock diseases to the high-priority research and extension areas eligible for competitive grants from the Secretary of Agriculture. It authorizes grants to improve prevention, diagnosis, and management of diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and bovine theileriosis caused by Theileria orientalis Ikeda and transmitted by the Asian longhorned tick, through research on vaccines, therapeutics, surveillance methods, and integrated tick management strategies, as well as extension and education activities for veterinarians, state agriculture departments, and livestock producers.