Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Every bull
moved into this state and every bull which is sold, exchanged, leased, rented,
or otherwise transferred in ownership or possession (hereinafter collectively
referred to as "transferred") from one person or entity to another within this
state shall be accompanied by a test result showing that the bull is free from
trichomoniasis (hereinafter referred to as "negative test result" or "testing
negative") except for the following bulls:
1.
exhibition and rodeo bulls that are temporarily in the state for the sole
purpose of an event and will be leaving the state immediately after the
event;
2. bulls going directly to
slaughter or sold to go directly to slaughter;
3. virgin bulls accompanied by a certificate
of virgin status, including the bull's official animal identification number
("AIN"), and signed by the owner of the bull, the owner's agent, or a Category
II accredited veterinarian;
4.
bulls being transported through this state in interstate commerce, unless
offloaded and commingled with female cattle already in this state that are not
going directly to slaughter; and
5.
untested bulls traveling to a trichomoniasis quarantine facility with an
official permit or quarantine notice.
B. Every bull required to be accompanied by a
negative test result shall be tested no later than 60 days prior to being moved
into the state or the date of transfer, except for bulls that are in a
trichomoniasis-free certification program or a semen certification program
recognized by the state veterinarian. Such bulls must not have commingled with
breeding females within 60 days from the date the lab reported the
sample.
C. Every bull moved into
this state and every bull within this state which is transferred from one
person or entity to another shall have official animal identification. This
requirement does not apply to bulls going directly to slaughter or to bulls
being sold to go directly to slaughter.
D. The requirements for testing cattle for
trichomoniasis are as follows.
1. All test
samples shall be drawn by a Category II accredited veterinarian.
2. The official test for
trichomoniasis shall be one negative PCR for
Trichomonas foetus that is performed at an NAHLN-approved
laboratory. Pooled tests are not considered official tests in
Louisiana;
3. Test results
indicating that the tested animal has trichomoniasis (hereinafter referred to
as "positive test results" or "testing positive") shall immediately cause the
tested animal to be classified as trichomoniasis-infected and subject to the
restrictions of this Subchapter.
4.
For trichomoniasis-positive bulls to be reclassified as negative or
non-infected, two additional negative PCR tests must be obtained. The request
for the confirmatory testing must be made to the state veterinarian within 5
business days of notification of the positive test result. Samples for
retesting must be drawn a minimum of 7 days apart and must be submitted to the
LADDL for testing.
a. If the confirming tests
are negative, then the tested animal is considered negative for trichomoniasis
and may be moved as such.
b. If
either of the confirming tests reveal a positive result, then the tested animal
shall be classified as trichomoniasis-positive and is subject to the
restrictions for trichomoniasis-positive animals set forth in this
Subchapter.
5. A bull
tested for trichomoniasis shall be kept separate from female cattle at all
times during the entire test period from the sample collection until receipt of
the results from the initial test. A bull testing negative on the initial test
shall be kept separate from all female cattle prior to change of possession. If
a bull has been commingled with female cattle, all official tests for
trichomoniasis prior to the commingling are invalid.
6. All test results for trichomoniasis,
whether negative or positive, shall be reported to the state veterinarian
within 24 hours after receipt of the results.
7. When a positive test result is received,
the attending veterinarian shall consult with the state veterinarian on the
first business day after receipt of the test results to determine a plan of
action regarding the animal testing positive.
E. Bulls that are required to be tested for
trichomoniasis prior to being moved into this state or prior to being
transferred from one person to another but which have not been tested, shall be
kept separate from female cattle over 12 months of age until a negative result
is obtained.
F. A bull being moved
directly to slaughter or sold to go directly to slaughter may be comingled with
breedable-type cattle also being moved directly to slaughter or being sold to
go direct to slaughter.
G. Bulls
classified as trichomoniasis-infected are subject to the following
restrictions:
1. no known
trichomoniasis-infected bull shall be moved into or within this state or
transferred within this state from one person to another, unless the bull is
going directly to slaughter or sold to go directly to slaughter;
2. no known trichomoniasis-infected bull,
whether being moved into or within this state, shall be used for breeding
purposes and shall be kept separate from female cattle, from the time the first
positive test result is received;
3. a trichomoniasis-infected bull shall be
moved directly to slaughter or sold to go directly to slaughter within 30 days
from receipt of the positive results of the original test or the results of the
confirming test, whichever is later, unless otherwise specified by the state
veterinarian; and
4. a
trichomoniasis-infected bull may be moved only after a USDA form VS 1-27 permit
is issued by the state veterinarian, or the state veterinarian's
representative. The VS 1-27 permit shall accompany the bull upon movement of
the animal.
H. If a
trichomoniasis-infected bull has been in a herd with female cattle, then the
infected bull and the other bulls in the herd, are subject to the following
requirements.
1. The trichomoniasis-infected
bull shall be immediately separated from the herd and all other bulls in the
herd and shall be moved or transferred only as allowed by this
Section.
2. If there is any other
bull or bulls in the herd, then those bulls shall be immediately separated
from, and kept separate from, all female cattle.
3. Each bull shall be tested for
trichomoniasis within 30 days from separation from all female cattle. Test
samples shall not be pooled.
4. A
bull testing negative in an infected herd shall be immediately removed from all
other bulls that have not been tested, or for which the test results have not
been received, and shall have one additional official test with negative
results, for a total of two negative tests, to be considered negative for
trichomoniasis. The additional official test sample shall be drawn a minimum of
seven days from the original test and must be submitted to LADDL for
testing.
5. Bulls testing positive
in an infected herd may be retested but shall have two additional negative PCR
tests to be reclassified as negative or non-infected bulls and the request for
the confirmatory testing must be made to the state veterinarian within five
business days of notification of the positive test result. Samples for
retesting shall be drawn a minimum of seven days apart and shall be submitted
to the LADDL for testing.
a. If the confirming
tests are negative, then the tested animal is considered negative for
trichomoniasis and may be moved as such.
b. If either of the confirming tests reveal a
positive result, then the tested animal shall be classified as
trichomoniasis-infected and subject to the restrictions for
trichomoniasis-infected animals set forth in this
Subchapter.
I.
A trichomoniasis infected herd is a herd known to contain or have contained a
trichomoniasis infected bull or cow. If a virgin bull or bull that has tested
negative for trichomoniasis is commingled with female cattle from a
trichomoniasis-infected herd, then the virgin bull or bull with a negative test
results shall be tested twice for and found to be free of trichomoniasis as set
forth in this Subchapter before being moved, placed into another herd, or
transferred from one person to another.
J. A cow is not required to be tested for
trichomoniasis before being moved into this state or transferred from one
person to another; but if a cow is tested then the same procedure set forth in
this Section for testing a bull shall apply to testing a cow.
K. A cow testing positive for trichomoniasis
shall be subject to the following restrictions.
1. A cow testing positive for trichomoniasis
shall not be moved into this state, except to go directly to slaughter or sold
to go directly to slaughter.
2. A
cow within this state that has tested positive for trichomoniasis shall be
immediately separated from, and kept separate from, all bulls.
a. The cow shall be moved directly to
slaughter or sold to go directly to slaughter within 30 days from receipt of
the positive result of the original test or the confirmatory test, whichever is
later, unless placed under a quarantine program approved by the state
veterinarian.
b. If the cow is
quarantined, it may not be removed from quarantine until released in writing by
the state veterinarian. The cow may be released from quarantine only by an
order from the state veterinarian or the state veterinarian's representative if
the cow is subsequently tested in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Subchapter and found to be free from trichomoniasis, or if the cow is to
be moved directly to slaughter or sold to go directly to
slaughter.
3. A
trichomoniasis-infected cow may be moved only after a VS 1-27 permit is issued
by the state veterinarian, or the state veterinarian's representative. The VS
1-27 permit shall accompany the cow upon movement.
L. The state veterinarian may grant a written
exception or variance to the provisions of this Section, with such conditions
as the state veterinarian deems appropriate, if such action is necessary to
provide for unforeseen situations or circumstances. Any exception or variance
shall balance the need to protect cattle from trichomoniasis with the need to
allow cattle to move in commerce.
AUTHORITY
NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
3:2093, 3:2095, and
3:2097.
