(a) A certified brucellosis free goat agreement must be completed
and signed with the Texas Animal Health Commission.
(b) Brucellosis testing will be on a herd basis. Certified
free herd status is for a 12-month period.
(c) Goats required to be tested--all sexually intact goats
are required to be tested at one year of age or older as evidenced by the
eruption of their first pair of permanent incisor teeth.
(d) Qualifying methods:
(1) Initial certification. Two consecutive, negative blood
tests of all goats required to be tested not less than 10 months, nor more
than 14 months apart;
(2) Recertification. For continuous certification, a herd must
have a negative herd test of all goats required to be tested conducted within
60 days before the certification anniversary date. If the certification test
is conducted within 60 days after the anniversary date, the certification
period will be 12 months from the anniversary and not 12 months from the date
of the recertifying test. During the interval between the anniversary date
and the recertifying test, certification will be suspended. If a herd test
for recertification is not conducted within 60 days after the anniversary
date, the certification requirements are the same as for initial certification.
(3) Purchase of a certified free herd:
(A) A negative herd blood test is not required when the goats
remain on the premises. A new certificate will be issued in the owner's name.
The anniversary date and the herd number will remain the same;
(B) All or part of a certified free herd purchased and moved
directly to premises without other goats may qualify without a test. A new
certification number will be issued. The anniversary date of the new herd
is established by the test date of the herd of origin or by a new herd test
of the purchased goats.
(e) Qualifying standards:
(1) Herd infection rates. The individual herd must disclose
no evidence of infection at the time of initial certification or recertification;
(2) Animal infection rates. The individual animals must disclose
no evidence of infection at the time of initial herd certification or recertification;
(3) Requirements following classification of a goat as a reactor
or suspect. Goat herds with animals classified as reactors or suspects will
be placed under hold order or quarantine and follow requirements as outlined
in §35.61 of this title (relating to General Requirements).
(4) Movement of goats into a certified brucellosis free herd
from certified brucellosis free herds. No test is required on goats originated
from certified brucellosis free herds. Goats added to a certified brucellosis
free herd under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale
purposes until they have passed a 60-120 day post entry test.
(f) Proof of qualifying as a certified brucellosis free herd:
(1) Initially a certificate will be issued.
(2) Recertification will be done by renewal certificate showing
only the certified free herd number, number of animals, and owner.
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