| (a) Bulls that have been determined to be infected
by culture or by PCR test and/or by confirmatory PCR test shall be
placed under hold order along with all other non-virgin bulls in the
bull herd. Infected bulls must be isolated from all female cattle
from the time of diagnosis until final disposition or as directed
by the commission. Breeding bulls which test positive for Trichomoniasis
may be retested provided: the owners, or their agents initiate a written
request to the TAHC Region Director where the bull is located within
five business days of the positive test; that retests are conducted
within 30 days after the date of the original test; test samples for
retests are submitted to the TVMDL for testing; and the positive bull
is held under quarantine along with all other exposed bulls on the
premise. If they are retested, they must have two consecutive negative
tests by PCR within 30 days of the initial test to be released from
hold order or quarantine.
(b) Positive bulls may be moved directly to slaughter
or to a livestock market for sale directly to slaughter. In order
to move, the bulls shall be individually identified by official identification
device on a movement permit authorized by the commission from the
ranch to the market and from the market to the slaughter facility,
or from the ranch directly to the slaughter facility. Movement to
slaughter shall occur within 30 days from disclosure of positive test
results (or confirmatory test results) or as directed by the commission.
(c) All bulls that are part of a herd in which one
or more bulls have been found to be infected shall be placed under
hold order in isolation away from female cattle until they have undergone
at least two additional culture tests with negative results (not less
than a total of three negative culture tests or two negative PCR tests)
within 60 days of the initial test unless handled in accordance with
subsection (d) of this section. All bulls remaining in the herd from
which an infected bull(s) has been identified must be tested two more
times by culture or one more time by PCR test. Any bull positive on
the second or third test shall be classified as positive. All bulls
negative to all three culture tests or both PCR tests shall be classified
as negative and could be released for breeding.
(d) Breeding bulls that are part of a quarantined herd
or a herd that is under a hold order and tests negative to the first
official Trichomoniasis test may be maintained with the herd if the
owner or caretaker of the bulls develops a Trichomoniasis herd control
plan with a certified veterinarian. The Trichomoniasis herd control
plan shall require all breeding bulls to be tested annually with an
official Trichomoniasis test and include other best management practices
to control, eliminate and prevent the spread of Trichomoniasis. The
Trichomoniasis herd control plan, unless otherwise approved or disapproved
by the commission, expires three years from the date the plan is signed
by the herd owner or caretaker and the authorized veterinarian. Breeding
bulls that are part of a Trichomoniasis herd control plan that expires
or that is disapproved must be tested for Trichomoniasis as required
by subsection (c) of this section.
(e) All bulls that are part of a herd one year after
the date the hold order or quarantine on the herd was released shall
be officially tested for Trichomoniasis.
(f) When Trichomoniasis is diagnosed in female cattle
or fetal tissue, all breeding bulls associated with the herd will
be restricted under a Hold Order for testing in accordance with this
section.
(g) If male or female cattle are found to be infected
with Trichomoniasis, then bulls that are located or were located on
property adjacent to the infected animal within 30 days from the date
the infected animal was removed from such property shall be officially
tested for Trichomoniasis. Such bulls shall be tested within a timeframe
as determined by the commission. The commission shall provide written
notification to the owner or caretaker of the bulls specifying the
timeframe in which the bulls must be tested. The commission may waive
this testing requirement if it is epidemiologically determined by
the commission that testing is not required.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §38.3 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 1977; amended to be effective November 2, 2010, 35 TexReg 9687; amended to be effective August 14, 2011, 36 TexReg 5090; amended to be effective February 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 494; amended to be effective October 9, 2014, 39 TexReg 7911; amended to be effective October 28, 2015, 40 TexReg 7395; amended to be effective October 6, 2019, 44 TexReg 5611; amended to be effective December 27, 2022, 47 TexReg 8525 |
