302 KAR 20:057. Brucellosis quarantine requirements

      Section 1. Definitions. As used in this administrative regulation unless the context clearly requires:

      (1) "Herd" shall mean all cattle (genus Bos), bison, including calves maintained on common ground for any purpose or two (2) or more groups of cattle (genus Bos), bison under common ownership or supervision, geographically separated but which have an interchange or movement of animals without regard to health status.

      (2) "Individual herd plans" shall mean an approved brucellosis control program of the herd under quarantine for the purpose of eliminating brucellosis from the herd, preventing spread to other herds, and preventing reintroduction after the herd has become free of brucellosis.

      (3) "Contact/adjacent herds" shall mean herds sharing common premises, herds within one (1) mile of the quarantined infected herds, or herds containing purchases from or exchanges with the quarantined infected herds.

 

      Section 2. Requirements for Quarantine Release. All cattle, (genus Bos), bison herds infected with or exposed to brucellosis may be quarantined by the state veterinarian until the following options for quarantine release are complied with:

      (1) Complete depopulation. Quarantine of a herd that has been depopulated in accordance with a state and/or federal depopulation agreement shall be released ninety (90) days after all designated cattle in the herd have been sent to slaughter, the cleaning and disinfection procedure set out in KRS 257.140 has been completed, and the depopulation agreement has been otherwise fully complied with.

      (2) Minimum requirements of the individual herd plan and quarantine release.

      (a) Adult vaccinated herds. All herds which are adult vaccinated shall be quarantined a minimum of 180 days after the last reactor has been removed from the herd and all requirements of the state/federal adult vaccination agreement have been complied with.

      (b)1. Other quarantined herds. Other quarantined herds shall remain under quarantine for a minimum of 300 days after the removal of the last reactor. A minimum of three (3) negative tests will be required with the third test to be administered at day 300. The herd owner is encouraged to test at more frequent intervals. The 300 day quarantine period may be shortened by the state veterinarian provided a complete epidemiological investigation of the herd is conducted and there is no evidence of brucella infection or exposure found.

      2. All calves in infected herds shall remain under quarantine until:

      a. Bull calves are castrated or isolated from the remainder of the infected herd for 180 days and tested negative;

      b. Heifers are spayed and identified with a "spade" brand;

      c. Calves are "S" branded and tagged and shipped to a state/federal quarantined feedlot or to slaughter on permit;

      d. Heifer calves not "S" branded or spayed:

      (i) Must be quarantined and held separate and apart from the affected adult herd after weaning until they are negative on an official test between fifteen (15) and forty-five (45) days following the completion of their first calving; or

      (ii) If the heifer calves remain in the affected adult herd, the entire herd shall not be released from quarantine until all the heifer calves have matured and calved, then the entire herd must be tested negative for brucellosis to qualify for quarantine release.

      (c) Contact/adjacent herds. All contact/adjacent herds shall be tested within thirty (30) days of the date of classification of the reactor herd or quarantined until a complete negative herd test is made.

      (d) Individual herd management plan requirements shall be met except when the designated brucellosis epidemiologist authorizes the modifications of the plan consistent with sound brucellosis eradication principles. Testing, tagging, and branding may be rendered without expense to the owner however, owners are to provide for the handling of their cattle. (13 Ky.R. 1196; eff. 1-13-87.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 257.020, 257.030, 257.040, 257.050

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 257.020, 257.030, 257.040, 257.050

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: The purpose of the administrative regulation is to delineate the procedures for quarantine and quarantine release of brucellosis infected and exposed herds.