Unless otherwise determined by the DFTE and approved by the
Executive Director, the following requirements shall apply:
(1) General Requirements:
(A) All scratch inspections, dipping, treatment, and
vaccination prescribed in this section must be done under the supervision
of a representative authorized by the commission.
(B) All scratch inspections, dipping, treatment, or
vaccination must be done under instructions issued by the commission.
All requirements will be in written form directed to the owner or
caretaker. An inspector for the commission will deliver the instructions
in person along with a copy of these regulations. All premises boundaries
will be listed in the instructions.
(C) The owner or caretaker of livestock on infested
and exposed premises must comply with the TAHC approved Quarantine
Schedule as follows:
(i) The starting date for infested premises for Table
I (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, South of Highway 90) and
Table II (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, North of Highway
90), is the date of the first clean dipping of 100% of the livestock.
(ii) The starting date for exposed premises for Table
I and Table II is when 100% of the livestock on the premises have
been dipped.
(iii) Copies of Table I (Pasture Treatment or Vacation
Schedule, South of Highway 90) and Table II (Pasture Treatment or
Vacation Schedule, North of Highway 90) may be obtained from the Texas
Animal Health Commission, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966.
Attached Graphic
(D) The owner or caretakers must gather and present
all livestock for scratch inspection, dipping, treatment or vaccination
required by the commission. The owner or caretaker is responsible
for all costs associated with and labor necessary for presenting the
owner or caretaker's cattle for scratch inspection, dipping, treatment,
or vaccination at the location prescribed by the commission.
(2) Requirements for Dipping, Treatment, or Vaccination:
(A) Dipping Requirements:
(i) The owner or caretaker of livestock on infested
or exposed premises must present the livestock to be scratch inspected
and dipped with subsequent dipping every seven to 14 days until the
livestock are moved from the premises in accordance with these regulations,
except as provided in subsection (1)(C) of this section.
(ii) The 14-day interval may be extended due to circumstances
beyond the control of the owner upon approval by an authorized representative
of the commission. In no event will the extension be more than three
days. If the extension is granted, no certificate for movement will
be issued after the 14th day, and the next dip must be on the original
14-day schedule.
(iii) The scratch inspection and first dip must be
within 14 days from the date infestation or exposure is discovered
unless otherwise approved by the commission.
(iv) A dip is not official unless 100% of the livestock
within the premises affected are dipped on schedule.
(v) The commission will authorize for use in dipping
only those dips that have been approved by the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture
and the commission for use in official dipping to rid animals of the
tick.
(vi) The concentration of the dipping chemical used
must be maintained in the percentage specified for official use by
means of the approved vat management techniques established for the
use of the agent; or, if applicable, by an officially approved vat
side test or field test of the commission.
(vii) If the commission requires livestock to be dipped,
the livestock shall be submerged in a vat. A spray-dip machine may
be used in areas where a vat is not reasonably available.
(viii) Careful hand spraying may be used for easily
restrained horses and show cattle, and when specifically authorized
by a commission representative, certain zoo or domestic animals.
(ix) Livestock unable to go through a dipping vat because
of size or physical condition, as determined by a commission representative,
may be hand sprayed.
(x) The dip treatment must be paint marked on the animals
so that it can be identified for as treated for at least 17 days after
the treatment.
(B) Authorized Treatment Requirements:
(i) Following the first clean dipping of 100% of the
livestock, the cattle may be treated with injectable doramectin in
lieu of systematic dipping. The owner or caretaker of cattle on an
infested or exposed premises must present the livestock to be scratch
inspected and treated with injectable doramectin every 25-28 days
until the livestock are moved from the premises in accordance with
these regulations, except as provided in subsection (1)(C) of this
section.
(ii) Treatment of doramectin shall by administered
by subcutaneous injection by a representative of the commission.
(iii) The owner or caretaker must comply with the slaughter
withholding period (35 days) of doramectin by holding cattle at the
premises of origin until the withdrawal period is completed.
(iv) Treatment is not official unless 100% of the livestock
within the premises affected are treated on schedule.
(v) Free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock that
are found on infested or exposed premises, and which are capable of
hosting fever ticks will be treated by methods approved by the commission
and for the length of time specified by the commission.
(I) Ivermectin medicated corn may be administered to
free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock by a representative of the
commission following the close of the hunting season, provided that
treatment is terminated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of
the next hunting season to comply with the required withdrawal period.
(II) Permethrin impregnated roller devices may be used
for topical treatment of free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock
during periods when ivermectin medicated corn is not administered.
The commission may specify the use of other pesticides for treatment
of wildlife or exotic livestock when deemed necessary to control and
eradicate fever ticks.
(C) Vaccination Requirements:
(i) The fever tick vaccine shall be administered by
employees or authorized agents of the USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services
or the commission.
(ii) The owner or caretaker must comply with the 60
day slaughter withholding period, or other slaughter withholding timeframe
as specified by the label. The owner or caretaker must hold vaccinated
cattle at the premises of origin until the withdrawal period is completed.
(iii) In addition to any dipping or treatment required
by this section, beef cattle two months of age or older located within
the tick eradication quarantine area shall be vaccinated with the
fever tick vaccine at intervals prescribed by the commission. The
vaccine must be administered when cattle are gathered and presented
for annual inspection as required by §41.9 of this chapter (relating
to Vacation and Inspection of a Premise) and at other times specified
by the commission.
(iv) In addition to any dipping or treatment required
by this section, the commission may require fever tick vaccination
of beef cattle two months of age and older located within the temporary
preventative quarantine area, control purpose quarantine area or other
beef cattle or premises epidemiologically determined by the commission
to be at an increased risk for fever ticks. The cattle shall be vaccinated
at intervals prescribed by the commission.
(3) Herd Plan and Protest. Each premises within a tick
eradication quarantine area, temporary preventative quarantine area,
or control purpose quarantine area will be classified by the commission
as an infested, exposed, adjacent, or check premises and is required
to execute a herd management plan and remain under restrictions until
no evidence of fever ticks is disclosed or a complete epidemiologic
investigation fails to disclose evidence of exposure to fever ticks,
with the concurrence of the DFTE. A person may protest an initial
test or a herd plan for each premises classified as increased risk
for fever ticks.
(A) To protest, the responsible person must request
a meeting, in writing, with the Executive Director of the commission
within 15 days of receipt of the herd plan or notice of an initial
test and set forth a short, plain statement of the issues that shall
be the subject of the protest, after which:
(i) the meeting will be set by the Executive Director
no later than 21 days from receipt of the request for a meeting;
(ii) the meeting or meetings shall be held in Austin;
and
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