SECTION 35.48. Initial Validation and Revalidation of Individual Swine Herd

(a) Qualifying methods. Swine herds may be validated or revalidated as brucellosis-free by the following methods.

(1) Complete herd test. Swine herds may be initially validated or revalidated when the herd test is negative.

(2) Increment testing. Swine herds may be validated or revalidated when all breeding swine (six months of age and older) in the herd are tested negative in the 25% increments every 80 to 105 days or in 10% increments every 25 to 35 days according to a specified herd testing plan with each breeding animal in the herd tested at least once during the one-year validation period. No swine may be tested twice in one year to comply with the 25% requirement or twice in 10 months to comply with the 10% requirement.

(b) Conditions for validating the herd.

(1) Size of unit. Validated free herd status applies to entire herds and includes all offspring.

(2) Duration of status. A herd is validated for 12 months. There is no grace period.

(3) Testing period.

(A) For initial validation, a herd can be validated based on the results of one negative herd test or through increment testing on a quarterly or monthly basis.

(B) For revalidation a herd must:

(i) have a negative herd test conducted within 10 to 12 months of the last validation date; or

(ii) show that all breeding swine (six months of age and older) in the herd are tested negative in 25% increments every 80 to 105 days or in 10% increments every 25 to 35 days according to a specified herd testing plan, with each breeding animal tested at least once during the one-year validation period. No swine may be tested twice in one year to comply with the 25% requirement or twice in 10 months to comply with the 10% requirement.

(4) Herd infection rate. There must be no evidence of infection at the time the herd is initially validated or revalidated.

(5) Animal infection rate. There must be no evidence of infection in individual animals at the time the herd is initially validated or revalidated.

(6) Suspects. If swine that are classified as suspect are found in a herd that is otherwise serologically, bacteriologically, and epidemiologically negative, the herd may be held under quarantine until the suspects are further evaluated and their status is determined.

(7) Herd status, if infection occurs. When one or more reactors are found in a validated herd or in a herd being tested for initial validation, it will be considered infected and quarantined and the eradication procedures in this section will apply.

(A) Initial validation. A herd qualifies for initial validated brucellosis-free status when it is free of infection, when all provisions for release of quarantine have been met, and when the additional provisions required under subsection (a)(1) of this section have been met.

(B) Revalidation. If a complete or partial test of a validated herd reveals reactors, herd validation status is terminated until all provisions for release of quarantine have been met, and the additional provisions for initial validated brucellosis-free herd status required under subsection (a)(1) of this section have been met.

(C) Herd retests for release of quarantine may also be used to fulfill the provisions required under subsection (a)(1) of this section.

(8) Movement of swine into validated brucellosis-free herds.

(A) Swine originating from validated brucellosis-free herds may enter without test.

(B) Breeding swine originating from nonvalidated herds must have a negative test within 30 days prior to date of entry. These animals must be held in isolation and be retested 30 to 60 days after arrival.

(C) Swine from feedlots may not be added to validated brucellosis-free herds. However, swine may be consigned to feedlots on premises with validated brucellosis-free herds without testing, provided those swine are held in isolation and segregated from all breeding stock.

(D) Consignments of slaughter swine may not be added to validated brucellosis-free herds.

(9) Use of swine semen in validated brucellosis-free herds. All semen used must be from boars in validated brucellosis-free herds.

Source Note: The provisions of this §35.48 adopted to be effective July 1, 1990, 15 TexReg 3085; amended to be effective July 20, 1992, 17 TexReg 4749.