Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 40 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Chapter 40-13 - ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION › Subject 40-13-4 - INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES › Rule 40-13-4-.03 - Bovine Brucellosis Eradication Requirements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) The State of Georgia is designated as a
				Certified Brucellosis- Free State by the United States Department of
				Agriculture.
(2) The Georgia
				Department of Agriculture adopts the Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods
				and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Uniform
				Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are
				available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying
				rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and
				Rules.
(3) Movement of cattle into
				Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Brucellosis
				Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules established by the Georgia
				Department of Agriculture.
(4)
				Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal
				Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will
				be considered official tests. All blood and milk samples and completed test
				records must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory within five (5)
				business days following collection. No person shall remove, deface, alter or
				otherwise change any official permanent mark, brand, tattoo, tag or other
				official identification on any cattle.
(5) Brucellosis Milk Surveillance Test
				(BMST): Milk samples will be obtained from dairy herds at such intervals as
				deemed necessary by the State Veterinarian for the purpose of determining the
				brucellosis status of such herds and must be submitted to the State/Federal
				Brucellosis Laboratory for testing. An epidemiological investigation of all
				herds with suspicious BMST results will be conducted and an action plan
				implemented as approved by the State Veterinarian.
(6) Individual Herd Certification: Individual
				herds may be designated as Certified Brucellosis-Free by complying with the
				requirements of the Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and
				Rules.
(7) Calfhood Vaccination:
				Female cattle between four (4) and twelve (12) months of age may be vaccinated
				with a brucella vaccine approved by the USDA and the State Veterinarian. A
				licensed and accredited veterinarian must administer the vaccine. Vaccinates
				must be permanently identified by an official vaccination ear tag, registration
				brand or registration tattoo and be properly tattooed as vaccinates at the time
				of vaccination. The vaccination records must be forwarded to the State
				Veterinarian within five (5) business days.
(8) Depopulation: Complete herd depopulation
				is the preferred method to control and eradicate brucellosis in an affected
				herd. The owner of a brucellosis-affected herd will be offered indemnity for
				complete herd depopulation provided state or federal funds are
				available.
(9) Affected Herds: All
				herds affected with brucellosis will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has
				custody or control of any cattle affected with brucellosis or known reactor
				animals to an official brucellosis test must isolate such animals from all
				other livestock in Georgia. All herds and premises related by common ownership
				or management will be quarantined when reactors are disclosed in a herd. All
				female cattle four (4) months of age and older will be required to be
				vaccinated with an approved brucella vaccine if depopulation cannot be
				accomplished. The affected herd quarantine will be released no sooner than
				sixty days following depopulation or upon completion of four (4) consecutive
				and complete negative herd tests. The first three (3) tests will occur at
				thirty (30), ninety (90), and one hundred and eighty (180) days after the last
				reactor was removed from the premise. The fourth test will occur no sooner than
				three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the last reactor left the
				premise. A complete herd test may be required six (6) to twelve (12) months
				following release of the quarantine if determined necessary by the State
				Veterinarian and the USDA. Quarantined cattle from affected herds must be
				consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported directly from the farm of origin to
				a state or federally approved slaughter establishment or quarantined feedlot.
				Quarantined cattle shall not be consigned to a livestock market. Herds
				quarantined because of an association with an affected herd by common ownership
				or management in which no reactors have been disclosed may qualify for a
				conditional quarantine release after one negative complete herd test with the
				approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA.
(10) At-Risk Herds: Livestock disclosed in an
				epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of brucellosis infection will be
				quarantined. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a herd plan to
				eliminate the risk of brucellosis in these livestock. A complete herd test of
				the at-risk herds will be required within thirty (30) days following disclosure
				of the affected herd and every one hundred and eighty (180) days thereafter
				while the affected herd remains quarantined. The at-risk herds will qualify for
				quarantine release with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA
				following a negative complete herd test conducted no sooner than one (1) year
				after the last reactor was removed from the affected herd. All at-risk female
				cattle will be vaccinated with an approved brucella vaccine. Calves twelve
				months of age and younger from adult vaccinated atrisk cattle herds, except
				calves in fence contact herds and herds that have commingled with affected
				herds, may be sold unrestricted within the one hundred and eighty (180) days
				following a negative complete herd test. Quarantined livestock from at-risk
				herds must be consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported directly from the
				farm of origin to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment or a
				quarantined feedlot. Quarantined livestock shall not be consigned to a
				livestock market. Any livestock moved into a designated area adjacent to an
				affected herd will be considered as an atrisk herd.
(11) Post-Quarantine Releasing Test: All
				livestock released from quarantine and all livestock on a premise previously
				quarantined for brucellosis will be retested as determined necessary by the
				State Veterinarian and the USDA.
(12) Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the
				responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor
				to pen all eligible animals for testing. If a herd owner fails to implement or
				comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the herd
				to be depopulated. Dairy herds not in compliance with the rules of this chapter
				are subject to revocation of their Grand A milk-shipping permit.
(13) Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected
				premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the
				State Veterinarian and the USDA.
O.C.G.A. Secs.
				  4-4-1
et seq.
,
				  4-4-64,
				  4-4-67,
				  4-4-70,
				  4-4-95.1,
				  4-4-96.