Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, December 1, 2023
RELATES TO: KRS Chapter 257
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS 257.030
authorizes the board to order and enforce the cleaning and disinfection of
premises and all articles and materials by which communicable diseases may be
transmitted, and the destruction of diseased and exposed animals, property, and
materials. This administrative regulation establishes a voluntary procedure to
prevent, control, and eradicate mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's) for
bovine and bison.
Section 1.
Definitions.
(1) "Bovine" or "bison" means a
sexually intact male or female bovine or bison twelve (12) months of age or
older designated to be used for breeding.
(2) "Herd" means all bovine and bison animals
that:
(a) Are maintained on common grounds
under common ownership or supervision, including an animal which may be
geographically segregated; and
(b)
Have interchange or movement of animals without regard to health
status.
(3) "Herd known
to be infected with mycobacterium paratuberculosis" means a herd in which
bovine, bison, or other animals on the premises have been determined to be
infected with mycobacterium paratuberculosis by an official mycobacterium
paratuberculosis epidemiologist or state veterinarian;
(4) "Johne's" means a contagious, infectious
and communicable disease caused by mycobacterium paratuberculosis
bacteria.
(5) "Management agreement
plan" or "MAP" means a plan voluntarily agreed to by the herd owner, designated
herd veterinarian, and the Department of Agriculture or state veterinarian that
is designed to qualify the herd as mycobacterium paratuberculosis
free.
(6) "Negative herd" means a
herd that tested negative to an official mycobacterium paratuberculosis test
that was given to classify animals in the herd for participation in a voluntary
management agreement plan.
(7)
"Official eartag" means an identification eartag approved by the Animal Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as being tamper-resistant and providing
unique identification for each animal. An official eartag may conform to the
alphanumeric National Uniform Eartagging System, or it may bear a valid
premises identification number that is used in conjunction with the producer's
livestock production numbering system to provide a unique identification
number.
(8) "Official individual
animal identification" means a set of identifying characters which is uniquely
associated with an individual animal, and which consists of one (1) of the
following:
(a) The animal's official eartag
number;
(b) The animal's breed
association tattoo;
(c) The
animal's breed association registration number; or
(d) A registration freeze brand number which
uniquely identifies the animal.
(9) "Official mycobacterium paratuberculosis
epidemiologist" means a state or federal veterinarian that is designated by the
state veterinarian and the federal veterinarian in charge to investigate,
diagnose, and make recommendations concerning an animal affected with
mycobacterium paratuberculosis.
(10) "Official mycobacterium paratuberculosis
test" means a serological test, fecal culture, DNA probe, or other test that
is:
(a) Approved by the state veterinarian for
the diagnosis of mycobacterium paratuberculosis; and
(b) Licensed or approved by the United States
Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
(11) "Positive animal" means an
animal:
(a) Which has given a positive or
suspect reaction to an official serology test or culture positive for the
mycobacterium paratuberculosis organism; or
(b) In which the mycobacterium
paratuberculosis organism has been found in:
1. The body of the animal; or
2. The body discharge of the
animal.
Section
2. Voluntary Herd Participants.
(1) The herd owner shall submit a written
application requesting the herd be enrolled in a voluntary herd MAP for the
control and eradication of mycobacterium paratuberculosis.
(2) The herd owner shall present all eligible
animals for inspection and testing and shall provide adequate records to ensure
implementation of the herd MAP.
(3)
The herd owner shall officially identify all animals upon implementation of a
voluntary herd MAP and shall officially identify all natural additions to the
herd within seven (7) days following birth.
(4) The herd owner shall maintain adequate
fencing to prevent contact with:
(a) A
positive animal; or
(b) An animal
with an unknown Johne's disease status.
(5) The herd owner shall within seven (7)
days notify his veterinarian of all new additions to the herd.
(6) The herd owner shall follow all the
guidelines and requirements of the herd MAP. The state veterinarian, the herd
owner, and the veterinarian in charge of the herd plan shall approve changes in
the MAP.
(7) The herd veterinarian,
herd owner, official mycobacterium paratuberculosis epidemiologist, and state
veterinarian shall develop a mycobacterium paratuberculosis MAP.
(8) The herd veterinarian shall:
(a) Advise the owner in implementing the herd
MAP;
(b) Submit to the Office of
the State Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, a copy of the herd MAP;
and
(c) Keep the state veterinarian
informed of all MAP changes.
(9) The herd veterinarian shall conduct each
quarter an on-site evaluation of the MAP including all management procedures
and facilities. These evaluations shall be reported to the state veterinarian.
One (1) of the quarterly inspections shall be conducted in the presence of a
Board of Agriculture agent designated by the state veterinarian.
(10) The herd veterinarian shall collect
samples or specimens that may be necessary to implement the herd MAP. A state
or federal approved laboratory shall conduct the tests.
(11) The state veterinarian shall maintain a
record of official individual animal identification, a record of all test
results, a register of herds enrolled in MAP, and the herd mycobacterium
paratuberculosis herd status.
(12)
In an agreement with the herd owner and the designated herd veterinarian, the
state veterinarian may provide assistance in implementing a MAP and shall
review and approve all mycobacterium paratuberculosis MAP.
(13) The state veterinarian shall conduct a
minimum of one (1) annual herd inspection.
(14)
(a)
The register for herds enrolled in a voluntary Johne's program shall be public
information.
(b) Information
regarding herd test history or current Johne's herd status shall not be public
information.
Section
3. Test Requirements.
(1) A herd
not known to be infected with mycobacterium paratuberculosis within the last
five (5) years shall be tested as follows:
(a)
All animals twenty (20) months of age or older shall have blood collected and a
fecal culture for an official mycobacterium paratuberculosis test.
(b) A negative herd blood test and negative
fecal culture may qualify the herd to be designated as a Phase III herd and the
herd may then be classified as a mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's) test
negative herd.
(c) To maintain a
Johne's test negative herd, the herd shall have:
1. An annual herd test of all animals twenty
(20) months of age or older; and
2.
A fecal culture conducted every third year.
(d) If a Johne's positive animal is
classified, the herd shall be tested following the requirements established in
Section 3(2) of this administrative regulation.
(2) A herd known to be infected with
mycobacterium paratuberculosis within the last five (5) years shall be treated
as follows:
(a) All animals twenty (20) months
of age or older shall have blood collected for an official mycobacterium
paratuberculosis test.
(b) All
animals twenty (20) months of age or older that are positive to an official
serology test shall:
1. Have a fecal culture
for Johne's;
2. If removal of the
animal is requested after a positive official serology test, be "J" punched as
set out in paragraph (c) of this subsection and consigned to slaughter only. If
the animal is to be slaughtered for home consumption, it shall be slaughtered
in an approved state or federal facility; and
3. Not remain on the premises without being
fecal culture tested for Johne's.
(c) A Johne's fecal culture positive animal
shall be immediately and permanently identified by punching the letter "J"
through the left ear of the animal along with placement of an official eartag,
if an official eartag is not already in place. The "J" punch shall be performed
by an agent of the board of agriculture as designated by the state
veterinarian. An animal so identified shall be consigned to slaughter when
removed from the premises. The herd shall be eligible for a second herd test
six (6) months after the last known Johne's positive animal has been removed
from the herd. The official mycobacterium paratuberculosis epidemiologist and
state veterinarian shall determine which tests shall be conducted based on the
herd's Johne's prevalence and risk classification.
(d) A complete herd test of all animals
twenty (20) months of age or older shall be conducted at six (6) month
intervals until the herd is classified as a Johne's test negative
herd.
(3) Johne's herd
risk classification.
(a) A herd with a Johne's
infection rate greater than five (5) percent shall be considered a "high risk"
herd.
(b) The herd risk
classification shall determine the types of test required to establish a
Johne's test negative herd. The official mycobacterium paratuberculosis
epidemiologist and the state veterinarian shall determine test
requirements.
(4) Herd
addition test requirements.
(a) An animal
twenty (20) months of age or older shall have a negative serology test within
thirty (30) days prior to change of ownership.
(b) A fecal sample shall be submitted for
mycobacterium paratuberculosis culture within fifteen (15) days following the
animal's introduction to the premises. An animal shall be isolated until the
fecal culture has been completed and reported by the laboratory.
(c) Six (6) months post introduction into the
herd, the animal shall be tested for Johne's by serology.
(d) Twelve (12) months post introduction into
the herd, the animal shall be tested for Johne's by serology and fecal
culture.
Section
4. Procedures for Implementing a Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis
MAP. The mycobacterium paratuberculosis MAP shall include:
(1) Phase I. Introductory to mycobacterium
paratuberculosis MAP.
(a) A clean separate
calving area shall be provided for each cow. The area shall be cleaned and
disinfected following each calving.
(b) The udder shall be washed prior to
calving and care shall be taken to remove all fecal material.
(c) The calf shall be removed from the dam
immediately following calving and placed in a clean facility. A calf shall not
nurse the dam.
(d) The udder shall
be cleaned and disinfected prior to collecting colostrum for the initial
feeding.
1. Except as provided in subparagraph
2 of this paragraph, colostrum shall:
a. Be
pasteurized; or
b. Originate from a
cow that has had two (2) negative tests at not less than six (6) month
intervals.
2. For an
older calf, pasteurized milk or commercial milk replacement shall be
used.
(e) Caution shall
be taken to prevent feed contamination. Clean feeding equipment shall be
used.
(f) An individual hutch or
pen shall be used to house a calf. A calf housing facility shall be separate
from the adult cattle. A calf shall not have exposure to adult cattle fecal
material.
(g) Clean bedding shall
be used. Caution shall be taken to prevent the introduction of manure into the
calf housing facility by footwear, equipment, or other means. All clothing
shall be changed and equipment cleaned and disinfected prior to entering the
calf housing area.
(h) A calf shall
be housed and pastured in a designated Johne's disease free area. A winter
housing area shall be separate and apart from the adult herd.
(i) Clean Johne's free water shall be
provided.
1. The water source shall originate
from developed tanks or free-flowing streams.
2. A stagnant pool shall be fenced to prevent
livestock entry.
(j) If
it is not practical to separate the calves, the cows shall calve in a large,
clean, open pasture area. Cows shall not be brought together or restricted to a
small designated area if calving.
(k) The requirements established in this
subsection shall have been implemented and approved by the official
mycobacterium paratuberculosis epidemiologist and by the state veterinarian.
The herd shall participate in Phase I for twelve (12) months.
(2) Phase II. Advanced
mycobacterium paratuberculosis MAP.
(a)
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis test protocol shall be implemented and all test
eligible animals presented for test and culture.
(b) A classified Johne's positive animal
shall be isolated and sold for slaughter.
(c) Offspring from an animal with clinical
mycobacterium paratuberculosis symptoms shall be removed from the herd:
1. Immediately; or
2. Prior to eighteen (18) months of
age.
(d) An animal with
symptoms of mycobacterium paratuberculosis shall be immediately isolated and
tested. The requirements established in Section 3(2)(a), (b), and (c) of this
administrative regulation shall be completed.
(3) Phase III.
(a) A Phase III herd shall be a herd which
has:
1. Been a qualified Phase II herd for
twenty-four (24) months or more; and
2. Had four (4) consecutive negative herd
tests of all eligible animals at not less than six (6) month
intervals.
(b) To
maintain a Johne's test negative herd, the herd shall have an annual negative
herd test of all eligible animals between ten (10) and twelve (12) months of
the herd Johne's test negative anniversary date.
Section 5. Loss of Herd Johne's
Test Negative Status.
(1) Detection of
mycobacterium paratuberculosis by a laboratory procedure shall constitute a
suspension of the mycobacterium paratuberculosis negative herd status. The herd
shall be removed from the Johne's test negative herd registry.
(2) If there is a loss of Johne's test
negative herd status, reestablishment shall be granted after two (2) negative
herd tests of all eligible animals have been conducted at six (6) months and
twelve (12) months following the loss of Johne's negative herd
status.
(3) If a purchased addition
causes a loss of Johne's negative herd test status, the state veterinarian, the
official mycobacterium paratuberculosis epidemiologist, the herd veterinarian
and the owner shall amend the MAP for reinstatement of mycobacterium
paratuberculosis Johne's test negative herd status.
Section 6. Proper Test and Culture Payment.
If available, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture shall provide funds for
laboratory mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's) test culture for a herd
enrolled in a MAP. Enrollment in a MAP shall be a requirement for payment of
the initial test.
Section 7.
Incorporation by Reference.
(1) "Kentucky
Department of Agriculture Johne's Herd Management Agreement Plan (MAP) (8/01
edition)" is incorporated by reference.
(2) It may be inspected, copied, or obtained,
subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture,
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
24 Ky.R. 1795; Am.
2363; eff. 5-13-98; 28 Ky.R. 1493; 1825; eff. 2-11-2002; Crt eff.
2-18-2020.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
257.020,
257.030(3),
(4),
257.110