Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 209 - Arkansas Agriculture Department
Division 01 - Livestock And Poultry Commission
Rule 209.01.20-001 - Trichimoniasis Testing and Movement Requirements for Cattle

A. "Approved laboratory" means any laboratory designated and approved by the state veterinarian for examining T. foetus samples.

B. "Bovine" means any sexually intact male and female animal of the genus bos.

C. "Change of ownership" means control of an animal being transferred between two (2) persons by sale, lease, or lending.

D. "Commingle" means animals of opposite sex and belonging to a single owner or multiple owners in the same enclosure or pasture with a reasonable opportunity for sexual contact.

E. "Herd" means the group of animals consisting of all male and female bovines over twelve months of age that have commingled during the last twelve (12) months.

F. "Herd management plan" means a plan approved by the State Veterinarian to ensure isolation and separation for T. Foetus exposed cattle.

G. "Official T. foetus bull test" means the sampling of the preputial content of a bull by a Licensed and accredited veterinarian or a veterinarian from the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. The test shall be conducted after seven days (7) 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 (I) PCR test.

H. "Official ID" means a USDA approved tagging system used for animal disease traceability.

I. "Positive T. foetus bull" means a bull that has had a positive T. foetus test.

J. "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.

K. "Negative T. foetus bull" means a bull that qualifies by one of the following:

L. "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.

M. "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.

N. "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.

O. "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.

A. A bull that has tested positive for Trichomoniasis may be brought into this state as long as he is taken to a Market and placed on a VS 1-27 for slaughter only.

B. No bull may be brought into this state without being accompanied by a negative test for Trichomoniasis except for the following animals:

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:

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 Virgin Bull Affidavit signed by the owner of the bull, or the owner's representative or a licensed and accredited 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 Virgin Bull Affidavit 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 an Official T. foetus bull test shall be three (3) separate culture tests, each conducted not less than one week apart, or one (I) 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.

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.

B. Exceptions to this rule shall include the following:

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:

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.

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 is to go to slaughter only or may be exempt from slaughter if accompanied by a CVI with a statement that the female is from a known T. foetus infected herd pursuant to one of the following circumstances:

A. The state veterinarian may grant a written exception to this rule only on an individual basis.

B. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this rule may result in administrative penalties as provided by law.

C. Authority: ACA §§ 2-32-501; 2-33-107(a); 2-40-103.

Trichomoniasis in Cattle proposed rule comment summary

Comments were received from the Livestock Marketing Association. The comments expressed support for proposed changes that allow for more out-of-state bulls and bulls needing trichomoniasis testing to be sold at Arkansas markets. The Comments requested changes be made to the proposed rule allowing bulls that have not been tested for trichomoniasis to be transferred to an approved feedyard using a particular federal form (VS-127). They also requested that the rule be amended to allow certain cattle to be transferred with a temporary paper backtag instead of a permanent official USDA eartag. The Commission considered the comments and voted to not make changes to the proposed rule, as it was felt that that proposed rule provided greater safeguards against the spread of contagious diseases.