Florida Administrative Code › 5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES › 5C - Division of Animal Industry › Chapter 5C-6 - BRUCELLOSIS › Section 5C-6.00192 - Herds and Herd Status

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) A complete herd
				test as required by this chapter shall include all test eligible cattle or
				bison in the herd. Test eligible animals shall include all animals over six
				months of age except steers, spayed heifers, bulls less than 18 months of age,
				official calf vaccinates of dairy breeds under 20 months of age, and official
				calf vaccinates of beef breeds under 24 months of age which are not parturient
				(springers) or post parturient.
(2)
				A herd includes all cattle or bison under common ownership or supervision that
				are grouped on one or more parts of any single premises, or on two or more
				premises geographically separated but which have had an interchange movement or
				contact. Such contact shall be accepted as having occurred unless otherwise
				established by the owner and consistent with the findings of the epidemiologic
				investigation. Groups of animals under multiple ownership on common premises,
				such as community pastures, grazing association units, etc., shall also be
				considered as a herd. Such herds shall include all other groups of animals
				owned by those persons unless the epidemiologic investigation establishes that
				association has not occurred. For determining herd infection rates, such
				negative multiple ownership may be counted as separate herds at risk and only
				designated as a single unit when classified as infected.
(3) A Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd is a
				herd in any area which meets the testing requirements as provided in Rule
				5C-6.002, F.A.C.
(4) Adjacent herds and contact herds.
				Adjacent herds, or herds sharing common pasture or having other contact with
				the infected herd, and herds containing previous purchases from or exchanges
				with the infected herd shall have an adjacent herd plan within 30 days of
				disclosure of the infected herd. The plan may involve testing up to the level
				of an infected herd. If a disagreement occurs, consultation between the herd
				owner, chief animal health official, the epidemiologist and the owner's
				veterinarian, if requested, will be held to resolve the situation. When
				quarantine of the infected herd is released, the owners of the potentially
				exposed herds shall be notified of the desirability of a second negative herd
				test. If the adjacent or contact herd is not to be retested, a statement will
				be prepared by the regulatory official indicating that the value of a second
				test was discussed with the herd owner and listing the reasons why the herd was
				not retested. A copy of the statement will be given to the herd
				owner.
(5) Notice of brucellosis
				quarantine.
(a) State or federal program
				officials will notify herd owners in the immediate community about the presence
				of cattle and bison herds that have been placed under quarantine for
				brucellosis. Program officials will also notify herd owners in the immediate
				community when they approve the establishment of quarantined feedlots and
				quarantined pastures. Herd owners are to be notified by means of an educational
				letter delivered in person or by mail within 30 days of the date quarantines
				are issued. The purpose of this notification is to emphasize to owners the
				importance of taking appropriate actions to protect their cattle and bison
				against the possible spread of brucellosis as the result of the presence of an
				infected herd in their community. When the herd quarantine is released, or the
				approval of the quarantined feedlot or the quarantined pasture is terminated,
				the herd owners are also to be notified within 30 days by an educational letter
				delivered in person or by mail.
(b)
				The regulatory official in charge of the brucellosis program shall notify the
				state public health agency within 15 days of the imposition of each quarantine
				for brucellosis so that the agency may take appropriate steps to assist in
				detecting any existing human cases of brucellosis and in preventing further
				potential exposure of family members and employees to
				brucellosis.