Section 38.3 - Infected Herds(a) Bulls that have been determined to be infected by culture or by PCR test and/or by confirmatory PCR test shall be placed under hold order along with all other non-virgin bulls in the bull herd. Infected bulls must be isolated from all female cattle from the time of diagnosis until final disposition or as directed by the commission. Breeding bulls which test positive for Trichomoniasis may be retested provided: the owners, or their agents initiate a written request to the TAHC Region Director where the bull is located within five business days of the positive test; that retests are conducted within 30 days after the date of the original test; test samples for retests are submitted to the TVMDL for testing; and the positive bull is held under quarantine along with all other exposed bulls on the premise. If they are retested, they must have two consecutive negative tests by PCR within 30 days of the initial test to be released from hold order or quarantine.(b) Positive bulls may be moved directly to slaughter or to a livestock market for sale directly to slaughter. In order to move, the bulls shall be individually identified by official identification device on a movement permit authorized by the commission from the ranch to the market and from the market to the slaughter facility, or from the ranch directly to the slaughter facility. Movement to slaughter shall occur within 30 days from disclosure of positive test results (or confirmatory test results) or as directed by the commission.(c) All bulls that are part of a herd in which one or more bulls have been found to be infected shall be placed under hold order in isolation away from female cattle until they have undergone at least two additional culture tests with negative results (not less than a total of three negative culture tests or two negative PCR tests) within 60 days of the initial test unless handled in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. All bulls remaining in the herd from which an infected bull(s) has been identified must be tested two more times by culture or one more time by PCR test. Any bull positive on the second or third test shall be classified as positive. All bulls negative to all three culture tests or both PCR tests shall be classified as negative and could be released for breeding.(d) Breeding bulls that are part of a quarantined herd or a herd that is under a hold order and tests negative to the first official Trichomoniasis test may be maintained with the herd if the owner or caretaker of the bulls develops a Trichomoniasis herd control plan with a certified veterinarian. The Trichomoniasis herd control plan shall require all breeding bulls to be tested annually with an official Trichomoniasis test and include other best management practices to control, eliminate and prevent the spread of Trichomoniasis. The Trichomoniasis herd control plan, unless otherwise approved or disapproved by the commission, expires three years from the date the plan is signed by the herd owner or caretaker and the authorized veterinarian. Breeding bulls that are part of a Trichomoniasis herd control plan that expires or that is disapproved must be tested for Trichomoniasis as required by subsection (c) of this section.(e) All bulls that are part of a herd one year after the date the hold order or quarantine on the herd was released shall be officially tested for Trichomoniasis.(f) When Trichomoniasis is diagnosed in female cattle or fetal tissue, all breeding bulls associated with the herd will be restricted under a Hold Order for testing in accordance with this section.(g) If male or female cattle are found to be infected with Trichomoniasis, then bulls that are located or were located on property adjacent to the infected animal within 30 days from the date the infected animal was removed from such property shall be officially tested for Trichomoniasis. Such bulls shall be tested within a timeframe as determined by the commission. The commission shall provide written notification to the owner or caretaker of the bulls specifying the timeframe in which the bulls must be tested. The commission may waive this testing requirement if it is epidemiologically determined by the commission that testing is not required.4 Tex. Admin. Code § 38.3
The provisions of this §38.3 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 1977; amended to be effective November 2, 2010, 35 TexReg 9687; amended to be effective August 14, 2011, 36 TexReg 5090; amended to be effective February 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 494; amended by Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 40, October 3, 2014, TexReg 7911, eff. 10/9/2014; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 43, October 23, 2015, TexReg 7395, eff. 10/28/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 44, Number 39, September 27, 2019, TexReg 5611, eff. 10/6/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 51, December 23, 2022, TexReg 8525, eff. 12/27/2022