Section 345IAC2-6-3. Certified brucellosis-free herd; establishment; maintenance

   (a) Agreements are as follows:

(1) The herd owner shall sign and file with the board an agreement, placing his or her herd under supervision for the purpose of establishing and maintaining such herd as a certified brucellosis-free herd by complying with the provisions of this section.

(2) Failure to comply with this rule, or any other rule of the board in respect to the herd maintained under agreement, shall constitute cause for canceling the agreement.

  (b) All cattle eighteen (18) months of age and over shall be tested, except for

steers and spayed heifers.

  (c) Certification is as follows:

(1) The herd will be certified brucellosis-free when it has passed at least two (2) consecutive negative tests, not less than ten (10) months nor more than fourteen (14) months apart.

(2) Suspect herds shall be retested as prescribed in section 5(a) of this rule.

(3) Where the milk ring test is employed, herds may become certified brucellosis-free after passing four (4) consecutive negative milk ring tests conducted at not less than ninety (90) day intervals, followed by a complete negative herd blood test of all eligible animals within ninety (90) days of the last milk ring test. Another official brucellosis milk test may be approved by the state veterinarian in order to facilitate the diagnosis, prevention, or control of disease.

(4) All animals sold from a certified brucellosis-free herd must be on record of certified tests, have met the requirements of additions to the certified free herd, or be qualified untested animals of said herd.

  (d) Recertification is as follows:

(1) The brucellosis-free herd status is for a one (1) year period. A negative herd test conducted within sixty (60) days prior to each anniversary date is required for continuous certification. Herd certification may be reinstated provided a negative herd test is conducted within sixty (60) days following the anniversary date. If a herd test for recertification is not conducted within sixty (60) days following the anniversary date, then certification requirements are the same as for initial certification.

(2) A dairy herd may maintain certification through negative results to a series of four (4) brucellosis ring tests, or other official brucellosis milk test approved by the state veterinarian, conducted at approximately ninety (90) day intervals. The fourth test must be conducted within sixty (60) days before the anniversary of the previous certification date. The state veterinarian may approve another testing protocol if the state veterinarian finds that the protocol is adequate to determine there is no evidence of brucellosis in the herd.

(3) If for any reason a "suspect" or "reactor" is found in the herd, including retest for reason of BRT suspicious test or market cattle identification (MCI) reactor disclosure, the certification shall be suspended until compliance is met for recertification.

(4) Satisfactory answers must be given to any questionnaire sent to the owner concerning certification or recertification of the herd.

  (e) Additions to a certified brucellosis-free herd under supervision are as follows:

(1) All additions must be accompanied with an official health certificate. Cattle from a Class C State or area must be accompanied by a health certificate endorsed, or approved by state veterinarian of the state of origin, indicating the date of the certification test.

(2) Animals shall originate from a certified brucellosis-free herd, showing certification number and date of test on the health certificate. Animals added under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale purposes until they have passed a forty-five (45) to ninety (90) days post-entry retest.

(3) Officially vaccinated dairy cattle under twenty (20) months of age, and beef cattle under twenty-four (24) months of age, if accompanied by an official vaccination certificate or proof of vaccination; except no vaccinated cattle that originated from a previously infected herd, unless at least one (1) generation removed from the infection and quarantine release.

(4) Class Free, Class A, and Class B State or area. Test eligible animals from herds not under quarantine must be tested negative for brucellosis within thirty (30) days prior to the date of movement and must be retested negative between forty-five (45) and ninety (90) days after being moved. Animals added under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale purposes until they have passed this post-entry retest.

(Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 2-6-3; filed Oct 29, 1984, 8:59 a.m.: 8 IR 168; filed Dec 22, 1986, 3:40 p.m.: 10 IR 1069; filed May 26, 1987, 3:45 p.m.: 10 IR 2275; readopted filed May 2, 2001, 1:45 p.m.: 24 IR 2895; readopted filed May 9, 2007, 3:16 p.m.: 20070516-IR-345070037RFA; readopted filed Aug 7, 2013, 8:32 a.m.: 20130904-IR-345130236RFA; filed Jan 7, 2016, 8:06 a.m.: 20160203-IR-345150160FRA)