Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION › Chapter 43 - TUBERCULOSIS › Subchapter A - CATTLE AND BISON › Section 43.3 - Approved Feedyards/Approved Pens

Current through Reg. 49, No.
				  28; July 12, 2024
(a)
				  Approved Feedyards/Approved Pens: A confined area, either the entire feedyard
				  or designated pens within the feedyard, jointly approved by the Executive
				  Director of the Commission and the Administrator of APHIS for feeding of
				  restricted livestock and exotic livestock.
(b) Designation Agreement: In order to be
				  recognized as an approved feedyard or approved pen there shall be a signed
				  designation agreement with TAHC and USDA-APHIS-VS indicating that the facility
				  can meet the necessary standards to accept restricted cattle, bison or exotic
				  livestock. The agreement will contain standards and procedures which the
				  facility must meet in order to be approved. The Agreement will provide for
				  isolation of animals, to separate and prevent contact, with restricted animals
				  and unrestricted animals through fencing and geographic separation; official
				  identification; biosecurity standards; and recordkeeping requirements, which
				  include information for all animals entering and leaving a facility. Failure to
				  meet and maintain those standards and procedures will cause a facility to have
				  the approve status rescinded. Known exposed animals must be tested negative
				  within 60 days and be "S" branded prior to entering the approved feedyard.
				  These animals will be placed under hold order and permitted out to
				  slaughter.
(c) Standards and
				  procedures
(1) Geographic separation:
				  Adequate isolation of animals which separate and prevent contact with tested
				  animals and untested animals by fencing and geographic separation. Geographic
				  separation shall be sufficient to meet the minimum standards in the UM&R as
				  well as to prevent potential spread of diseases to other livestock on the
				  premises and adjacent premises.
(2)
				  Official identification: All animals entering and leaving the facility must be
				  officially identified and that information is to be recorded and maintained as
				  required by paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(3) Biosecurity standards: All approved
				  facilities may not be required to be cleaned and disinfected between groups of
				  cattle unless specifically directed by the DTE to clean and disinfect all or
				  portions of the pen or other parts of the facility. Additionally, approved
				  facilities shall not be required to vacate pens, that have contained
				  tuberculosis infected animals, for thirty (30) days unless specifically
				  required by the DTE to vacate the pens.
(4) Recordkeeping requirements: An approved
				  facility shall maintain records which indicated the movement of all animals
				  that enter and leave a facility. An approved facility must maintain the records
				  as required by §
											RSA
				  43.2(i) of this title
				  (relating to Requirements on Dealer Record Keeping).
(5) Grazing: In order for the Commission to
				  recognize an approved facility having grazing the, commission must enter into a
				  MOU with USDA-APHIS and the facility must be able to show an ability to
				  maintain isolation of those animals from other animals. Any provisions for
				  grazing or pasturing restricted cattle or bison entering an approved
				  feedlot/approved pens must be formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
				  by the Chief State Animal Health Official and the Administrator. The MOU must
				  include adequate isolation and fencing requirements as recommended by the DTE
				  and the Regional Tuberculosis Epidemiologist. An animal leaving the confined
				  area must be destined to either another approved feedlot or approved pen, or to
				  an approved slaughter facility.
(6)
				  The approved status must be renewed by the operator every two years provided
				  that the requirements specified in these regulations and the approved agreement
				  continue to be met by the feedyard. If the Executive Director determines the
				  feedyard's failure to comply with the Approved Pens Agreement or these
				  regulations then he can rescind the agreement.