Section 345IAC2-7-3. Chronic wasting disease registered herd program

   (a) The requirements in this section apply to captive cervids. The owner of a captive cervid that is of a species that is not known to be susceptible to CWD and therefore not required to participate in the CWD program may voluntarily participate in the CWD program.

  (b) The following requirements apply to any person that keeps a captive cervid at a location in Indiana:

(1) The person shall register with the state veterinarian each location where his or her cervids are kept.

(2) Each animal in the herd must be uniquely identified at the earliest of the following events:

(A) At the time the animal is moved onto the premises.

(B) At the time the animal is moved off of the premises.

(C) At the time the animal is held for testing, vaccination, or veterinary care.

(D) At the time the animal is held for semen, embryo, antler, or other collection from the animal.

Animals that have existing identification do not need to be reidentified upon the occurrence of these events if the existing identification meets the criteria for identification prescribed by this rule and the existing identification is recorded in the herd inventory.

(3) Cervids identified under this section must be identified using at least two (2) forms of identification attached to the animal. One (1) of the animal identifications must be an official identification that is a tamper resistant ear tag. The second animal identification may be a tamper resistant ear tag or one (1) of the following forms of identification that is unique to the animal within the herd:

(A) An electronic implant.

(B) A flank tattoo.

(C) An ear tattoo.

(D) An identification device approved by the state veterinarian.

Identification of a cervid must be maintained on the animal until the animal is deceased and any samples required by the board are collected from the animal. If the identification is not collected as a part of a sample collection, it must remain with the animal until the carcass is disposed of in accordance with this rule and IC 15-17-11-20.

(4) The owner must keep a complete, accurate, and current herd inventory. A herd inventory shall include the following:

(A) A record of each animal that is part of the herd including the following:

(i) The animal's species.

(ii) All of the animal's identification.

(iii) The animal's age and sex.

(B) A record of:

(i) all identification associated with each animal that is added to the herd;

(ii) the date the animal is added to the herd; and

(iii) the source of the animal.

If the source of the animal is from outside the owner's herd, the name and address of the source.

(C) A record of:

(i) all identification associated with each animal that is removed from the herd;

(ii) the cause for removal (sale, escape, death by accident, or death by other means);

(iii) the date removed; and

(iv) the name and address of the animal's destination.

(D) A person must keep a record of any purchase and resale of an animal, even if the animal never enters that person's possession or herd, and to include transactions brokered by the person. The records must include the source of the animal under clause (B) and the destination of the animal under clause (C).

(5) Upon request of the state veterinarian, the owner or custodian of cervids must do the following:

(A) Provide the state veterinarian access to or a copy of the written herd inventory.

(B) Provide access to the herd premises and present each animal in the herd to the state veterinarian for inspection, verification or application of identification, testing or evaluation, to include assembling, handling, and restraining the animals.

(6) The herd owner shall, within one (1) business day of discovery, notify the state veterinarian of the escape or disappearance of any animal in the herd.

(7) Upon the death of an animal in the herd that is twelve (12) months of age or older for any reason, the owner of a hunting preserve shall initiate action to collect samples for CWD testing according to one (1) of the following procedures:

(A) By procuring the services of a veterinarian to collect appropriate samples for CWD testing.

(B) By procuring the services of an approved CWD sample collector to collect appropriate samples for CWD testing.

(C) By any other procedure authorized by the state veterinarian that ensures appropriate sample collection, handling, and transportation for testing.

Samples must be submitted to an approved laboratory no later than February 1 of the year immediately following the hunting season. Samples must be adequately preserved to ensure they are in a condition that may be tested.

(8) The state veterinarian may inspect any cervid and take tissues or other material necessary or helpful for detecting disease. The owner must allow the state veterinarian to collect samples from any animal sent to slaughter.

(9) The owner shall dispose of a cervid carcass that has been sampled for testing as directed by the state veterinarian. Cervid carcasses that are not sampled shall be disposed of in accordance with IC 15-17-11-20. The state veterinarian may require that the owner identify the carcass in a particular manner.

(10) The herd must be enclosed in a perimeter fence that:

(A) is made from materials that will prevent cervids from entering or leaving through the structure;

(B) has no openings that will allow ingress or egress; and

(C) measures at least eight (8) feet from the ground to the top of the fence at all parts of the structure.

The state veterinarian may approve a perimeter fence enclosing smaller cervids that is lower than eight (8) feet if the fence is likely to contain the animals.

  (c) The state veterinarian may:

(1) conduct an epidemiologic evaluation of any cervid herd, including testing any animal if it furthers the goal of animal disease surveillance and control; and

(2) consider all relevant factors, including the:

(A) length of time the herd has been under a CWD surveillance program;

(B) herd's health history;

(C) potential effects of any additions to the herd; and

(D) potential effect of wild cervids on the herd;

when evaluating herds under this subsection.

  (d) The requirements in this section do not apply to a person possessing a dead wild cervid taken pursuant to a hunting permit issued by the Indiana department of natural resources. (Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 2-7-3; filed Jan 4, 2001, 1:59 p.m.: 24 IR 1339; readopted filed May 2, 2001, 1:45 p.m.: 24 IR 2895; filed Sep 12, 2002, 1:07 p.m.: 26 IR 347; filed Sep 5, 2003, 8:41 a.m.: 27 IR 92; filed Jul 23, 2008, 1:01 p.m.: 20080820-IR-345070824FRA; errata filed Oct 3, 2008, 3:30 p.m.: 20081022-IR-345080767ACA; filed May 23, 2013, 3:16 p.m.: 20130619-IR-345120491FRA)