La. Admin. Code tit. 7 § XXI-751

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXI-751 - Trichomoniasis Testing and Movement Requirements for Cattle (Formerly section 339)

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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XXI-751

Promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Board of Animal Health, LR 35:1466 (August 2009), amended LR 36:2518 (November 2010), repromulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Animal Health and Food Safety and the Board of Animal Health, LR 40:958 (May 2014), Amended LR 49237 (2/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:2093, 3:2095, and 3:2097.