SECTION 55.1. Testing Breeding Swine Prior to Sale or Change of Ownership

(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Breeding Swine--Swine that are sexually intact, parturient, postparturient, or six months of age or older.

(2) Change of Ownership--Taking possession of breeding swine as a result of a gift or by some other form of remuneration.

(3) Test or Testing--Collection and examination of blood samples taken from swine by using commission or USDA recognized tests for pseudorabies and swine brucellosis.

(4) Test Eligible--A term used to describe those sexually intact breeding swine, that are parturient, postparturient, or six months of age or older, are required to be tested for pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. A sow is a female swine which is parturient or postparturient. A boar is an uncastrated male swine 6 months of age or over which is or has been capable of being used for breeding purposes.

(5) Commercial Production Swine--Those swine are continuously managed and have adequate facilities and practices to prevent exposure to either transitional production swine or feral swine.

(6) High-Risk Domestic Swine--Captive swine located in feral swine areas in which management practices allow for possible disease exposure via direct or indirect feral swine contact. High-risk domestic swine are formerly referred to as transitional or transitional production swine.

(7) Farm of Origin--A farm where swine were born or on which they have resided for at least 90 consecutive days immediately prior to movement.

(8) Pseudorabies--The contagious, infectious, and communicable disease of livestock and other animals also known as Aujeszky's disease.

(9) TAHC Authorized Veterinarian--A veterinarian who is licensed to practice medicine in Texas, Category II accredited by USDA-APHIS-VS and has satisfactorily completed TAHC disease control or eradication program training pursuant to 4 TAC Chapter 47.

(b) Testing Prior to Change of Ownership.

(1) All breeding swine shall test negative for pseudorabies and swine brucellosis within 30 days prior to change of ownership in Texas. Swine from herds with a current disease-free status are exempt from this test requirement.

(2) TAHC or USDA-APHIS-VS regulatory personnel or a TAHC Authorized Veterinarian shall collect and test blood samples using procedures referenced in current national disease program standards.

(3) Breeding swine from which blood was collected at a livestock market may be moved from the market to a recognized slaughter facility without receiving test results. No permit or hold order is required for movement to a recognized slaughter facility.

(4) Breeding swine from which blood was collected at a livestock market may be moved from the market to the buyer's premises under hold order pending results of the test and should be isolated from other swine until the hold order is released.

(5) Each animal tested shall be officially identified by a USDA Veterinary Services approved identification eartag (metal, plastic, or other) that conform to the nine-character alphanumeric National Uniform Eartagging System.

Source Note: The provisions of this §55.1 adopted to be effective September 6, 1998, 23 TexReg 8831; amended to be effective March 16, 2005, 30 TexReg 1441; amended to be effective April 18, 2010, 35 TexReg 2849; amended to be effective October 21, 2021, 46 TexReg 7044