Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
Definitions
The following words or terms, when used in this Subchapter,
shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicated
otherwise:
"Acceptable specimen" means a specimen determined
satisfactory for diagnostic testing by the testing laboratory, including
complete documentation.
"Approved laboratory means any laboratory
designated and approved by the state veterinarian for examining T. foetus
samples.
"Approved veterinarian" means an accredited
veterinarian who is licensed and accredited in the state of Arkansas.
"Bovine" means any sexually intact male and female
animal of the genus bos.
"Change of ownership" means control of an animal
being transferred between two (2) persons by sale, lease, or lending.
"Commingle" means animals of opposite sex and
belonging to different owners in the same enclosure or pasture with a
reasonable opportunity for sexual contact.
"Complete herd test" means an official T. foetus
test from each non-virgin bull in the herd.
"Herd" means the group of animals consisting of
all male and female bovines over twelve (12) months of age that have commingled
during the last twelve (12) months.
"Official T. foetus laboratory testing" means the
laboratory procedures that shall be approved by the state veterinarian for
culture and identification of T. foetus.
"Official T. foetus bull test" means the sampling
of the preputial content of a bull by a licensed, accredited and trich test
certified veterinarian or a veterinarian from the Arkansas Livestock and
Poultry Commission. The test shall be conducted after a one week separation
from all female bovine and the bull and sample shall be positively and
individually identified and documented for laboratory submission. The test may
consist of three (3) culture tests one (1) week apart or one (1) PCR
test.
"Positive T. foetus bull" means a bull that has
had a positive T. foetus test.
"Positive T. foetus bull herd" means that group of
all bovines which have had any opportunity for sexual contact in the previous
breeding season and in which any male or female animal has had a positive
diagnosis for T. foetus.
"Negative T. foetus bull" means a bull that
qualifies by one of the following:
A.
originate from a herd not known to be infected and has had a negative official
T. foetus bull test within the last year;
B. originate from a positive herd but:
1. Has a series of three negative official T.
foetus bull tests at intervals of at least one week;
2. Or a negative official T. foetus bull test
within thirty (30) days prior to entry with no sexual activity for one (1) week
prior to the test and between the test and movement.
"Suspect T. foetus bull" means a bull
from a positive T. foetus herd that has not yet had three (3) consecutive
negative official T. foetus bull tests.
"Trichomonas (Tritrichomonas) foetus" or "T.
foetus" means a contagious venereal protozoan parasite disease of the
trichomonas foetus species that frequently results in lifetime infection of
male bovidae as an inapparent carrier and causes infertility, pyometra,
abortions and reproductive inefficiency in female bovidae.
"Unacceptable sample" means a sample that is
deemed not diagnostic by the official testing laboratory.
"Virgin bull" means a sexually intact male bovine
less than twenty-four (24) months of age that has had no breeding and no
potential breeding contact with females.
"Virgin bull affidavit" means a signed affidavit
from the owner, manager, or veterinarian that verifies the bull has had no
breeding and no potential breeding contact with females.
I. import Requirements for Bulls
A. No bull that has tested positive for
trichomoniasis shall be brought into this state for any purpose
whatsoever.
B. No bull may be
brought into this state without being accompanied by a negative test for
trichomoniasis except for the following animals:
1. Exhibition and rodeo bulls that are
temporarily in the state only for the purpose of the event and will be leaving
the state after the event;
2. Bulls
consigned to go directly to slaughter; and
3. Virgin bulls (under twenty-four (24)
months of age).
C. A
bull that is brought into this state without being accompanied by a negative
test for trichomoniasis shall not be comingled with any cow unless the bull is
tested and found to be negative for trichomoniasis prior to
comingling.
D. All bulls, except
exhibition and rodeo bulls, brought into this state shall be identified by one
or more of the following means prior to importation:
1. Brucellosis ear tag;
2. Official 840 radio frequency
identification device (RFID);
3.
Official 840 flap or bangle tag;
4.
Official individual animal breed registry brand;
E. Virgin bulls, other than exhibition and
rodeo bulls, brought into this state shall, in addition to any other required
documentation, be accompanied by a certification of virgin status signed by the
owner of the bull, or the owner's representative or a duly authorized
veterinarian. The certification shall include the bull's individual
identification. If the owner seeking to import the virgin bull into this state
acquired the bull from a breeder or another owner, a certification of virgin
status signed by the breeder and each prior owner of the bull, or their
representative, must also accompany the bull. The use of the Arkansas Virgin
Bull Status form is required.
F.
The requirements for trichomoniasis testing shall be three separate culture
tests, each conducted not less than one week apart, or one (1) polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) test no more than thirty (30) days prior to entry of the bull
into this state. All sample collections and inspection of bulls must be
performed by a licensed and accredited veterinarian. Testing for trichomoniasis
must be performed at/by an accredited/approved laboratory.
G. All bulls found to be positive for T.
foetus must be taken to slaughter within two weeks on a VS-127. Arkansas
Livestock and Poultry Commission must be notified of all positive bulls and the
disposition of these bulls.
II. Intrastate Change of Ownership
Requirements for Bulls
A. Any bull changing
ownership within the state of Arkansas shall have a negative official T. foetus
test within thirty (30) days prior to change of ownership with no exposure to
females from seven (7) days prior to the test at the time of change of
ownership.
B. Exceptions to this
rule shall include the following:
1. Virgin
bulls (under twenty-four (24) months of age)
2. A bull sold directly to slaughter;
or
3. A
bull sold for feeding and slaughter that will be castrated within seven (7)
days of change of ownership.
C. Any bull presented for sale at a livestock
auction market that is not a virgin bull or having verification of a negative
official T. foetus test:
1. Shall be tagged
for slaughter only and sold for slaughter on a VS 1-27 form;
or
2. May
go to the purchaser's destination so long as the market veterinarian takes a
sample for an official T. foetus test and the purchaser agrees to keep the bull
under quarantine at the destination until receipt of negative test
results.
D. The market
veterinarian shall be responsible for the sampling and results for an official
T. foetus test performed at the livestock market
E. All bulls found to be positive for T.
foetus must be taken to slaughter within two weeks on a VS-127. Arkansas
Livestock and Poultry Commission must be notified of all positive bulls and the
disposition of these bulls.
III. Import Requirements for Reproductive
Bovine Females
A. Female cattle or bison may
enter Arkansas with no restrictions concerning Trichomoniasis unless
originating from a known positive T. foetus herd.
B. A female bovine originating from a known
positive T. foetus herd may enter Arkansas only upon a CVI with a statement
that the female is from a known T. foetus infected herd pursuant to one of the
following circumstances:
1. The female bovine
has a calf at side and no exposure to other than known negative bulls since
parturition;
2. The female bovine
are at least one hundred twenty (120) days pregnant;
3. The female bovine are known to be virgin
heifers;
4. The female bovine are
heifers exposed only to known negative bulls and are not yet one hundred twenty
(120) days pregnant;
5. The female
bovine are documented to have had at least one hundred twenty (120) days of
sexual isolation; or
6. The female
bovine are consigned directly to slaughter or to a quarantined
feedlot.
IV.
Exceptions
The state veterinarian may grant a written exception to this
rule only on an individual basis.
