New Mexico Register / Volume XXIX, Issue 8 / April 24, 2018

This is an amendment to 21.30.6 NMAC, Section 11, effective 04/24/2018.

21.30.6.11 REGULATORY ACTION:

A. Commingled grazing. All non-virgin bulls commingling in grazing associations or multiple permittee allotments or leases, shall have the official T. foetus bull test conducted annually prior to turn out. A new official test will be required each time the bull(s) enter a different grazing association or multiple permittee allotment or lease.

(1) If a bull is found positive, the entire bull population present on the allotment or lease, regardless of ownership, will be required to have an official T. foetus test conducted. All positive bulls shall be identified with the official New Mexico livestock board “N” fire brand or NMLB approved method, and be sold for slaughter only. All test negative bulls belonging to the same owner(s) will be required to have a second negative test prior to turn out and a third negative official test after the bull(s) are removed from the grazing association or multiple permittee allotment or lease.

(2) Any stray non-virgin bull from an untested group that enters the grazing area of tested animals may be held under quarantine until the bull has one or more official T. foetus test(s) conducted. The test(s) shall be the responsibility of the bull’s owner. The conditions of the quarantine and number of tests will be determined by the state veterinarian.

B. Positive T. foetus bull & herd. Any confirmed T. foetus bovine and its herd (as defined by state animal health officials) shall immediately be placed under quarantine and will continue under quarantine until the following rules are completed.

(1) Positive T. foetus bulls shall be identified with the official New Mexico livestock board “N” fire brand or other NMLB approved method.

(2) Positive T. foetus bulls shall be quarantined and sent directly to slaughter or to public livestock market for slaughter only. [A quarantined feed period may be allowed under special conditions.] Positive bulls may be required to move on a NMLB approved method. Confined feeding may be allowed provided bulls are “N” branded.

(3) All other bulls in a positive T. foetus herd shall test negative to three consecutive official T. foetus tests at least seven days apart. The third T. foetus test will be completed within 12 months of T. foetus confirmation in the herd and will be conducted after the bulls have had breeding exposure to the cow herd. The bulls will be removed from the cow herd at least seven days prior to the official T. foetus test. If more than 12 months have passed since confirmation of T. foetus in the herd, the state veterinarian may require additional T. foetus testing prior to release of quarantine. The initial negative T. foetus test is included in the three negative tests.

(4) If a disease management plan has not been developed and activated within 30 days of confirmation of T. foetus infection in the herd, all bovids, except steers and spayed heifers, will be required to go directly to slaughter upon leaving the ranch.

(5) Any bull entering a quarantined premise will be required to test negative prior to re-introduction to its herd of origin.

C. Reproductive bovine females from a positive T. foetus herd.

(1) Females over 12 months of age (not known to be virgin heifers) from a positive T. foetus herd may be sold direct to slaughter or quarantined on the premises of origin. Individual females may be released from quarantine when either all requirements of Paragraph 3 of Subsection B of 21.30.6.11 NMAC have been met or the cow(s) has a calf at side with no exposure to other than known negative T. foetus bulls since parturition, has documented 120 days of sexual isolation or is determined by an accredited veterinarian to be at least 120 days pregnant. Heifers known to be virgin at the time of turnout or heifers exposed only to known negative T. foetus bulls and not yet 120 days pregnant are allowed unrestricted movement.

(2) Open females shall be sold to slaughter or held in isolation from all bulls for 120 days. Any female sold to slaughter through a livestock market shall be identified with an official New Mexico positive T. foetus tag or NMLB approved method during the quarantine period.

(3) Breeding by artificial insemination is allowed during the quarantine period and cows confirmed by an accredited veterinarian to be at least 120 days pregnant as well as cows documented to have 120 days sexual isolation will be released from quarantine.

(4) If a disease management plan has not been developed and activated within 30 days of confirmation of T. foetus infection in the herd, all bovids, except steers and spayed heifers, will be required to go directly to slaughter upon leaving the ranch.

D. Regulatory action.

(1) Any stray non-virgin bull from an untested group that enters the land of a negative T. foetus herd and commingles with that herd may be held under quarantine until the bull has one or more official T. foetus test(s) conducted.

(2) The test(s) shall be the responsibility of the bull(s) owner. The conditions of the quarantine and the number of tests will be determined by the state veterinarian.

E. Neighboring facilities of a positive T. foetus herd.

(1) All facilities that share a common boundary with a positive T. foetus herd will be notified by the NMLB and [may be required to test all of the bulls on the facility at their own expense.] may be quarantined based on results of the epidemiological investigation by the state veterinarian. Quarantine will remain in place until testing requirements are satisfied. [The decision to require such testing will be made by the state veterinarian based on results of epidemiological investigation.]

(2) Any exposed herds found positive upon testing will be designated as a positive T. foetus herd.

[21.30.6.11 NMAC - N, 7/15/05; A, 2/26/10; A, 07/15/14; A, 04/24/2018]