Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION › Chapter 38 - TRICHOMONIASIS › Section 38.3 - Infected Herds

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12,
				2024
(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.