Section 345IAC2-6-7. Infected herds; identification and disposition of reactors; quarantine to be implemented when state status is identified other than Brucellosis-free by USDA Brucellosis Eradication Program

   (a) All reactors shall be further identified, upon demand, as follows:

(1) A reactor tag approved by the board shall be affixed to the left ear.

(2) The letter "B" not less than two (2) inches or more than three (3) inches shall be branded high on the left tailhead (over the fourth to the seventh coccygeal vertebrae) with a hot iron, in such a manner that the brand shall be permanent. This identification shall be prior to movement from the owner's premises.

  (b) The disposal of reactors shall be as follows:

(1) All reactors shall be:

(A) isolated immediately from the remaining portion of the herd; and

(B) removed from the premise for slaughter to an approved slaughtering establishment or to an approved market for sale to such slaughtering establishment within fifteen (15) days following branding and tagging. (The time may be extended fifteen (15) days for reasons mutually acceptable to the cooperating state and federal officials in charge.)

(2) Reactors shall be accompanied by a permit for movement of animals as prescribed by the board.

  (c) Cleaning and disinfecting shall be performed, except as further noted, following the prescribed methods outlined by regulatory personnel, within fifteen (15) days following removal of reactors. An extension of time may be considered under extenuating circumstances.

  (d) This subsection establishes requirements for quarantine of infected herds or infected feedlots. All cattle, except steers and spayed heifers, must be:

(1) confined to the premises until the herd is tested and found to be free of Brucellosis; or

(2) sold for slaughter under permit for movement of animals. (See subsection (e)(3) concerning "S" branding.)

  (e) Identification and disposition of exposed cattle shall be as follows:

(1) Animals that have been in contact with Brucellosis reactors in marketing channels for more than twenty-four (24) hours are considered to be exposed regardless of the blood test results and shall be:

(A) sent to immediate slaughter; or

(B) returned to the farm of origin under quarantine to be isolated from other cattle and tested as required under subsection (g).

If exposed animals are moved to slaughter, they shall be identified by hot branding with the letter "S" (at least two (2) inches by two (2) inches) placed high on the left tailhead (over the fourth to the seventh coccygeal vertebrae) prior to movement and accompanied by permit for movement.

(2) Exposed cattle returned from the auction market to the herd of origin, under quarantine, pending further testing are exempt from this requirement.

(3) No suspects or any animals from a Brucellosis quarantined herd or quarantined feedlot shall be removed from the premises, until a permit for movement, VS Form #1-27, has been obtained from the board or its agent by the owner or caretaker, and the animal is properly identified with an "S" brand. Feedlot cattle may be sold directly to Indiana approved slaughter plants with head count and permit VS Form #1-27 without branding.

  (f) The board or its agent may issue permits for any cattle from a quarantined herd or quarantined feedlots only for consignment directly to an approved state or federal slaughtering establishment, or to a commission firm located at an approved public stockyard or approved auction market for reconsignment for immediate slaughter, and shall include the following:

(1) The owner of the animals shall furnish the following to the board:

(A) The destination.

(B) The name and address of:

(i) the commission firm; or

(ii) the approved state or federal slaughtering establishment.

(2) The permit shall:

(A) show identification of the animals by tag number; and

(B) specify the animals described shall be sold for slaughter only.

(3) The trucker shall:

(A) have the permit in his or her possession when the animals described in this subsection are being transported; and

(B) deliver the permit to the consignee or his or her agent at destination.

(4) The person to whom such animals are consigned shall immediately report to the board the receipt of such animals.

  (g) Release of quarantine shall be as follows:

(1) All cattle, except steers and spayed heifers, including officially vaccinated heifers and calves in affected herds, shall be confined to the premises until the herd is freed of Brucellosis or sold for slaughter under "S" brand and permit and shall include the following:

(A) Three (3) consecutive negative herd blood tests are required for release of quarantine with the first negative herd test occurring not less than thirty (30) days after the removal and slaughter of all previous reactors.

(B) The second negative herd blood test shall occur not less than one hundred twenty (120) days following the removal of the last reactor.

(C) The releasing test (the third negative herd blood test) shall occur not less than ten (10) months (two hundred ninety-nine (299) days) following the removal of the last reactor. Exceptions shall be as follows:

(i) Herds where Strain 19-Brucella is cultured from milk and/or tissue from the reactor. Those herds may be released from quarantine after a negative herd test thirty (30) days from removal of reactor.

(ii) Herds where no Brucella are isolated from milk and/or tissue and no further evidence of Brucellosis is evident may be released one hundred twenty (120) days from removal of reactor upon the recommendation of the Brucellosis epidemiologist.

(2) Herd of origin of market cattle test reactors that fail to reveal additional reactors on a test of the entire herd would not be required to be held under quarantine for additional testing unless evidence suggestive of Brucella infection or exposure thereto is present.

(3) Any suspect found on the test for release of quarantine and subsequently testing negative after thirty (30) days may qualify the herd for release of quarantine.

(4) Cleaning and disinfection under the guidelines of state or federal personnel are required before the quarantine can be released.

  (h) A herd plan for elimination of Brucellosis from each infected herd formalized between the owner and regulatory veterinarian shall be executed.

  (i) Any person owning or having custody of cattle where testing is deemed advisable who:

(1) refuses to permit his or her cattle to be tested; or

(2) fails to render reasonable assistance as set forth in this rule;

shall be deemed to have violated this rule and shall be subject to all the penalties provided by law as set forth in the Indiana Code.

  (j) The status of herds placed under quarantine for Brucellosis are to be made known to herd owners in the immediate community. The herd owners shall be notified by personal contact or by mail, including educational information about the disease. (Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 2-6-7; filed Oct 29, 1984, 8:59 a.m.: 8 IR 170; filed Dec 22, 1986, 3:40 p.m.: 10 IR 1071; filed Sep 6, 1990, 2:30 p.m.: 14 IR 88; filed Oct 11, 1996, 2:00 p.m.: 20 IR 744, ineffective under IC 4-22-2-25; filed Mar 27, 1997, 11:15 a.m.: 20 IR 2112; errata, 22 IR 2007; 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)