SECTION 41.8. Dipping, Treatment, and Vaccination of Animals

Unless otherwise determined by the DFTE and approved by the Executive Director, the following requirements shall apply:

(1) General Requirements:

(A) All scratch inspections, dipping, treatment, and vaccination prescribed in this section must be done under the supervision of a representative authorized by the commission.

(B) All scratch inspections, dipping, treatment, or vaccination must be done under instructions issued by the commission. All requirements will be in written form directed to the owner or caretaker. An inspector for the commission will deliver the instructions in person along with a copy of these regulations. All premises boundaries will be listed in the instructions.

(C) The owner or caretaker of livestock on infested and exposed premises must comply with the TAHC approved Quarantine Schedule as follows:

(i) The starting date for infested premises for Table I (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, South of Highway 90) and Table II (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, North of Highway 90), is the date of the first clean dipping of 100% of the livestock.

(ii) The starting date for exposed premises for Table I and Table II is when 100% of the livestock on the premises have been dipped.

(iii) Copies of Table I (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, South of Highway 90) and Table II (Pasture Treatment or Vacation Schedule, North of Highway 90) may be obtained from the Texas Animal Health Commission, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966.

Attached Graphic

(D) The owner or caretakers must gather and present all livestock for scratch inspection, dipping, treatment or vaccination required by the commission. The owner or caretaker is responsible for all costs associated with and labor necessary for presenting the owner or caretaker's cattle for scratch inspection, dipping, treatment, or vaccination at the location prescribed by the commission.

(2) Requirements for Dipping, Treatment, or Vaccination:

(A) Dipping Requirements:

(i) The owner or caretaker of livestock on infested or exposed premises must present the livestock to be scratch inspected and dipped with subsequent dipping every seven to 14 days until the livestock are moved from the premises in accordance with these regulations, except as provided in subsection (1)(C) of this section.

(ii) The 14-day interval may be extended due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner upon approval by an authorized representative of the commission. In no event will the extension be more than three days. If the extension is granted, no certificate for movement will be issued after the 14th day, and the next dip must be on the original 14-day schedule.

(iii) The scratch inspection and first dip must be within 14 days from the date infestation or exposure is discovered unless otherwise approved by the commission.

(iv) A dip is not official unless 100% of the livestock within the premises affected are dipped on schedule.

(v) The commission will authorize for use in dipping only those dips that have been approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and the commission for use in official dipping to rid animals of the tick.

(vi) The concentration of the dipping chemical used must be maintained in the percentage specified for official use by means of the approved vat management techniques established for the use of the agent; or, if applicable, by an officially approved vat side test or field test of the commission.

(vii) If the commission requires livestock to be dipped, the livestock shall be submerged in a vat. A spray-dip machine may be used in areas where a vat is not reasonably available.

(viii) Careful hand spraying may be used for easily restrained horses and show cattle, and when specifically authorized by a commission representative, certain zoo or domestic animals.

(ix) Livestock unable to go through a dipping vat because of size or physical condition, as determined by a commission representative, may be hand sprayed.

(x) The dip treatment must be paint marked on the animals so that it can be identified for as treated for at least 17 days after the treatment.

(B) Authorized Treatment Requirements:

(i) Following the first clean dipping of 100% of the livestock, the cattle may be treated with injectable doramectin in lieu of systematic dipping. The owner or caretaker of cattle on an infested or exposed premises must present the livestock to be scratch inspected and treated with injectable doramectin every 25-28 days until the livestock are moved from the premises in accordance with these regulations, except as provided in subsection (1)(C) of this section.

(ii) Treatment of doramectin shall by administered by subcutaneous injection by a representative of the commission.

(iii) The owner or caretaker must comply with the slaughter withholding period (35 days) of doramectin by holding cattle at the premises of origin until the withdrawal period is completed.

(iv) Treatment is not official unless 100% of the livestock within the premises affected are treated on schedule.

(v) Free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock that are found on infested or exposed premises, and which are capable of hosting fever ticks will be treated by methods approved by the commission and for the length of time specified by the commission.

(I) Ivermectin medicated corn may be administered to free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock by a representative of the commission following the close of the hunting season, provided that treatment is terminated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the next hunting season to comply with the required withdrawal period.

(II) Permethrin impregnated roller devices may be used for topical treatment of free-ranging wildlife or exotic livestock during periods when ivermectin medicated corn is not administered. The commission may specify the use of other pesticides for treatment of wildlife or exotic livestock when deemed necessary to control and eradicate fever ticks.

(C) Vaccination Requirements:

(i) The fever tick vaccine shall be administered by employees or authorized agents of the USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services or the commission.

(ii) The owner or caretaker must comply with the 60 day slaughter withholding period, or other slaughter withholding timeframe as specified by the label. The owner or caretaker must hold vaccinated cattle at the premises of origin until the withdrawal period is completed.

(iii) In addition to any dipping or treatment required by this section, beef cattle two months of age or older located within the tick eradication quarantine area shall be vaccinated with the fever tick vaccine at intervals prescribed by the commission. The vaccine must be administered when cattle are gathered and presented for annual inspection as required by §41.9 of this chapter (relating to Vacation and Inspection of a Premise) and at other times specified by the commission.

(iv) In addition to any dipping or treatment required by this section, the commission may require fever tick vaccination of beef cattle two months of age and older located within the temporary preventative quarantine area, control purpose quarantine area or other beef cattle or premises epidemiologically determined by the commission to be at an increased risk for fever ticks. The cattle shall be vaccinated at intervals prescribed by the commission.

(3) Herd Plan and Protest. Each premises within a tick eradication quarantine area, temporary preventative quarantine area, or control purpose quarantine area will be classified by the commission as an infested, exposed, adjacent, or check premises and is required to execute a herd management plan and remain under restrictions until no evidence of fever ticks is disclosed or a complete epidemiologic investigation fails to disclose evidence of exposure to fever ticks, with the concurrence of the DFTE. A person may protest an initial test or a herd plan for each premises classified as increased risk for fever ticks.

(A) To protest, the responsible person must request a meeting, in writing, with the Executive Director of the commission within 15 days of receipt of the herd plan or notice of an initial test and set forth a short, plain statement of the issues that shall be the subject of the protest, after which:

(i) the meeting will be set by the Executive Director no later than 21 days from receipt of the request for a meeting;

(ii) the meeting or meetings shall be held in Austin; and

(iii) the Executive Director shall render his decision in writing within 14 days from date of the meeting.

(B) Upon receipt of a decision or order by the executive director which the herd owner wishes to appeal, the herd owner may file an appeal within 15 days in writing with the Chairman of the commission and set forth a short, plain statement of the issues that shall be the subject of the appeal.

(C) The subsequent hearing will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act, and Chapter 32 of this title (relating to Hearing and Appeal Procedures).

(D) If the Executive Director determines, based on epidemiological principles, that immediate action is necessary, the Executive Director may shorten the time limits to not less than five days. The herd owner must be provided with written notice of any time limits so shortened.

Source Note: The provisions of this §41.8 adopted to be effective June 15, 2016, 41 TexReg 4245; amended to be effective May 30, 2017, 42 TexReg 2824