SECTION 35:15-17-65. Qualifying standards

   Qualifying standards for a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd of cattle or bison are as follows:

(1)   Size of area is on a herd basis, including all offspring.

(2)   Length of status is twelve (12) months.

(3)   Testing period.

(A)   For initial certification the period is ten (10) to fourteen (14) months, or a minimum of nine (9) months if the milk ring test is used.

(B)   For recertification a negative blood test of all test eligible animals shall be conducted within ten (10) to fourteen (14) months of the last certification date for continuous status.

(4)   The individual herd shall have no evidence of infection at the time of initial herd certification or recertification.

(5)   The individual animals shall have no evidence of infection at the time of initial herd certification or recertification.

(6)   Animals classified as suspects shall be tested sufficiently to determine their status. The various supplemental tests shall be conducted on blood samples, and the results evaluated by a brucellosis epidemiologist and a determination made that an infection does not exist before the surveillance on suspects is dropped. If the suspects requiring retests are not available, then a complete herd test is required.

(7)   When one or more reactors are disclosed in a certified herd or in a herd under test for initial certification, the herd status shall be affected and the quarantine and retest provisions shall apply.

(A)   A herd qualifies for initial Certified Brucellosis-Free status when the herd is free of infection, all provisions of release of quarantine are met, and additional provisions required under 35:15-17-64 are met.

(B)   A herd decertified because a brucellosis reactor is discovered shall only be recertified by repeating the entire certification process.

(8)   Standards for movement of animals into a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd are as follows:

(A)   Animals consigned to feedlots may be held on premises with a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd provided these animals meet the blood testing requirements prior to entry into the feedlot and there is no contact with the Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd.

(B)   No test requirements on breeding or dairy animals originating from Certified Brucellosis-Free Herds or Class Free States or Areas shall be required. Animals added to the Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale purposes until they have passed a sixty to one hundred twenty (60-120) day post-entry retest.

(C)   Test eligible animals from herds not under quarantine and from Class A, B, or C Areas or States shall be blood tested negative for brucellosis within thirty (30) days prior to the date of being moved. In addition, all other requirements for interstate or intrastate movement shall be met. A sixty to one hundred twenty (60-120) day post-entry retest is required for all cattle purchased from noncertified free herds. Animals added to a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale purposes until passing a sixty to ninety (60-120) day post-entry retest and are included in an anniversary herd test.

[Source: Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2425, eff 6-26-97; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 2420, eff 7-25-10]