302 KAR 20:055.

Brucellosis vaccination, testing and branding requirements.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS

Chapter 257, 257.020, 257.030, 257.040, 257.060, 257.070, 257.115

      STATUTORY

AUTHORITY: KRS 257.020, 257.030

      NECESSITY,

FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: To specify the requirements for vaccination against

the disease brucellosis, and to define the requirements for testing or

branding.

 

      Section 1.

Vaccination and Branding Protocol. (1) Female animals which are vaccinated

shall be officially vaccinated between four (4) and ten (10) months of age with

an approved reduced dosage Brucella vaccine and identified by a vaccination

tattoo in the ear and an official vaccination ear tag, or, in the case of

registered cattle, by an identification tattoo.

      (a) Vaccination

tattoo shall be placed in the right ear and shall legibly identify the quarter

of the year, shield and the calendar year of vaccination.

      (b) Official

vaccination ear tag shall be placed in the right ear and shall identify the

animal according to the state of origin, official vaccinate status and

individual identification number.

      (2) Animals

shall be vaccinated, branded, or tested by, or under the supervision of, a

licensed, accredited veterinarian or by an authorized agent of the board or by

authorized federal personnel (i.e., includes "S" branding).

      (3) Official

documentations of the above listed procedures shall be promptly conveyed to the

office of the state veterinarian on appropriate forms provided by same.

      (4) Animals on

Kentucky farms or changing ownership on a Kentucky farm may be vaccinated with

funds appropriated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky if available.

      (5) No person

shall tamper with the vaccination tattoo or official vaccination ear tag, and

no person shall retattoo any animal unless approval is first obtained from the

Kentucky State Veterinarian or from Kentucky's area veterinarian in charge

(AVIC). No person shall tamper with an official brand, ear tag or other

individual animal identification device.

      (6) Location of

brands: "S" on the face or hip, "open spade" on the hip.

 

      Section 2.

Procedure Requirements. (1)(a) Sexually intact females twelve (12) months of

age or older shall be negative to an official brucellosis test within thirty

(30) days prior to change of ownership, unless the cattle:

      1. Originate

directly from a brucellosis certified free herd;

      2. Are official

calfhood vaccinates of the dairy breed, less than twenty (20) months of age;

      3. Are official

calfhood vaccinates of the beef breeds less than twenty-four (24) months of

age;

      4. Are open

heifers less than eighteen (18) months of age designated for feeding purposes;

or

      5. Are

identified with an "S" brand and moving directly to recognized

slaughter facilities or to designated quarantined feedlots in states approving

this movement.

      (b) Diversion of

"feeder" heifers for use as breeding animals without meeting

applicable test requirements shall be a violation of this administrative

regulation.

      (2) Female

bovine animals sold through a Kentucky livestock market when eligible shall be

identified as to farm of origin.

      (3) Fattened

heifers, intended for slaughter only, or consigned directly to a slaughter

facility must meet federal requirements.

      (4) Spayed

heifers may move freely in Kentucky, when in compliance with appropriate

movement certification. Such heifers are identified with an "open

spade" brand.

      (5) Approved

livestock assembly facility. These facilities shall be approved by the

Department of Agriculture and be designated only for cattle assemblage.

Vaccination, testing or branding requirements shall be met prior to release of

animals from these facilities, and records of state and farm of origins shall

be kept by the operators. Animals imported into Kentucky and remaining in

Kentucky after entering an approved livestock assembly facility shall also meet

Kentucky's entry requirements 302 KAR 20:040. Animals tested for brucellosis by

the designated veterinarian shall remain at the facility until the results are

known negative.

      (6) The test

eligible age of eighteen (18) months shall be determined by the loss of the

first pair of temporary incisor teeth.

      (7) The test

eligible age for official calfhood vaccinated females of dairy breeds shall be

twenty (20) months of age and shall be determined by the partial eruption of

the first pair of permanent incisors (twenty (20) months of age or older).

      (8) The test

eligible age for official calfhood vaccinated females of beef breeds shall be

twenty-four (24) months of age and shall be determined by the first pair of

permanent incisors fully erupted (two (2) years of age or older).

      (9) Heavy

springers or cows postpartum shall be tested eligible regardless of age. (11

Ky.R. 1712; Am. 12 Ky.R. 19; eff. 8-13-85; 14 Ky.R. 850; eff. 12-11-87; 1936;

eff. 5-9-88; 21 Ky.R. 1925; 2486; eff. 4-6-95.)