SECTION 55.4. Livestock Markets Handling Swine

(a) An official backtag is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) approved identification backtag. The backtag must conform to the national uniform tagging system and uniquely identify each individual animal with alphanumeric identification.

(b) Livestock markets that handle feeder or breeding swine must have well-constructed, well-lighted, concrete or other approved imperviously surfaced pens. If adequate pens are not constructed at any market, no further sales of feeder or breeding swine shall be permitted at that market.

(c) Feeder and breeding swine must be maintained separately from slaughter swine. Feeder and breeding swine must be sold before the sale ring is used for slaughter swine.

(d) No feeder or breeding swine may remain in the livestock market for more than 72 hours. No slaughter swine may remain in the livestock market for more than 120 hours (five days).

(e) No slaughter swine shall be released from the livestock market unless the slaughter swine are:

(1) consigned for immediate slaughter; or

(2) consigned to one other livestock market for sale only to slaughter as long as dealer records are maintained on both the buyer and seller, and swine are moved under permit when moving from markets that are not approved under 9 CFR §71.20.

(f) When there is evidence of classical swine fever within a livestock market, all swine therein shall be immediately quarantined. No swine movement into, out of, or within the market shall be allowed until permitted by a representative of the commission.

(g) Market identification with an official backtag is required on all test eligible swine in each consignment to a livestock market. The market shall record the following information on each consignment to the market:

(1) full name, street address and/or route address and zip code of the owner or caretaker of the swine at the time of delivery to the market;

(2) backtag number with prefix for each head of swine; and

(3) delivery vehicle license number.

(h) Requirements for testing test-eligible swine at the market.

(1) Blood samples shall be collected from test-eligible swine that are sold for testing for swine brucellosis and pseudorabies. These samples may be collected either prior to or after sale but prior to leaving the market.

(2) If result of the blood test is unknown prior to leaving the market, swine may be moved to the buyer's premises under permit and hold order pending result of that test.

(3) Swine that originate directly from a herd with a recognized free status for that disease or if they were tested negative within the previous 30 days are exempt from the testing requirement. Proof of a disease-free status or negative test must be presented at time of sale.

(4) Each animal(s) 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 and an official backtag.

(5) Pursuant to §55.8 this title, the market shall maintain official backtag information correlating the backtag number to both the seller and the buyer of those swine for a minimum of two years from the date of the transaction.

(6) At the time of blood sample collection, a swine test chart (TAHC Form 91-26 or VS Form 4-54S) shall be completed in its entirety.

Source Note: The provisions of this §55.4 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective July 1, 1990, 15 TexReg 3085; amended to be effective October 15, 1995, 20 TexReg 7483; amended to be effective July 16, 1997, 22 TexReg 6733; amended to be effective September 6, 1998, 23 TexReg 8831; amended to be effective March 16, 2005, 30 TexReg 1441; amended to be effective October 21, 2021, 46 TexReg 7044