Tuberculosis test. The current rule specifies the tests that may be used for Tuberculosis. The proposed rule specifies that a post axillary Tuberculosis test may be used for all camelids (not just South American camelids) but not for exotic ruminants.
The proposed rule replaces the definition term “Axillary tuberculosis test” with “Post axillary tuberculosis test” to accurately define the test to be used when testing camelids for Tuberculosis.
Wild deer disease control area. The proposed rule creates this definition to mean a CWD-affected area designated by the DNR under Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 10 or other disease area affecting wild cervid designated by the DNR or the department. Medical Separation
Currently, medical separation provisions are listed under farm-raised deer and fish farms, respectively, as these are the species for which medical separation is most requested. The current rule requires fencing and facilities to be adequate to maintain separation of animals at all times. Current medical separation inspection fees are $200 for farm-raised deer and $400 for fish farms. The $400 fee more accurately reflects the cost involved with these inspections.
The proposed rule creates a new section relating to medical separation of any species. The proposed rule reflects the federal requirement that fencing and facilities must maintain at least 30 feet of separation at all times for bovine animals and farm-raised deer. Medical separation fees are $400 for each day (or portion of a day) needed to complete the inspection. Also see medical separation requirements for Federally Approved Livestock Marketing Facilities, below.
Both the current and the proposed rule specify that no inspection is required for the renewal of an existing medically separated premises if the department has previously inspected the premises for medical separation, and there have been no changes in registration, licensure, certification, ownership, or use of premises.
Disease Reporting
Appendices A and B list diseases that must be reported to the department within one day or 10 days, respectively. The proposed rule updates the diseases listed in these appendices.
The proposed rule requires that a person who reports a disease listed under either of the appendices must include the official individual identification of the animal tested. If the animal has no official individual identification, the person collecting the test sample must apply such identification to livestock (other than fish) or another appropriate identifier for other non-livestock animals. Identification must be applied prior to collecting the test sample.
The proposed rule specifies that if the state veterinarian determines that a new disease is reportable because it presents a threat to animals or humans in the state, he or she may issue an order to make the disease reportable within one or ten days.
The proposed rule requires that test samples for Brucellosis, Johne’s disease, pseudorabies, Tuberculosis, chronic wasting disease, and viral hemorrhagic septicemia, be submitted to a laboratory approved by the department.
Wisconsin Certified Veterinarians
The current rule specifies requirements for a veterinarian to automatically become a Wisconsin certified veterinarian. It also specifies reasons for decertification. The proposed rule requires Wisconsin certified veterinarians to follow accreditation standards under 9 CFR 160-162 or risk suspension or revocation of Wisconsin certification. The proposed language clarifies the department’s authority, thereby allowing the department to take swift action if a veterinarian does not follow accreditation standards. This authority is not new, but it will allow the department to be more responsive when action is needed. Brucellosis Testing and Control
The current rule specifies Brucellosis testing and control requirements under bovine, farm-raised deer, and swine portions of the rule. The proposed rule creates a new, general section relating to Brucellosis testing and control that applies to all animals and deletes the Brucellosis provisions currently related to bovine, farm-raised deer, and swine.
Tuberculosis Testing and Control
The current rule lists most of the provisions relating to Tuberculosis testing and control in a general Tuberculosis testing and control section as it pertains to all animals. The current rule also lists Tuberculosis requirements under bovine and farm-raised deer portions of the rule. The proposed rule will consolidate all the Tuberculosis testing and control requirements into the general Tuberculosis testing and control section.
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
The current rule requires the number, species, breed, sex, and age of animals included in a shipment to be listed on the CVI. The proposed rule requires that the purpose of movement also be listed on the CVI.
The current rule requires the veterinarian that signed the CVI for imported animals to file copies with the department and the chief livestock health official in the state of origin within 7 days after movement. The proposed rule reflects federal requirements by requiring the veterinarian to file copies with the chief livestock health official in the state of origin within 7 calendar days of issuance and requires the chief livestock health official (rather than the veterinarian) to file the certificate with the department within 7 calendar days of receipt. If the state of origin does not have a chief livestock health official who submits certificates of veterinary inspection for a particular species, the veterinarian who signs the certificate must file copies with the department within 7 calendar days after issuance.
The current rule requires a Wisconsin certified veterinarian who issues a CVI for export or intrastate movement of Wisconsin animals to file copies with the department within 7 days after the export or intrastate movement. If the animals are being exported, the veterinarian must also file a copy of the CVI with the chief livestock health official of the state of destination. The proposed rule reflects federal requirements by requiring the veterinarian to file copies with the department within 7 calendar days after issuance. If the animals are being exported, the department (rather than the veterinarian) must file a copy of the CVI with the chief livestock health official of the state of destination within 7 calendar days of issuance.
Federally Approved Livestock Marketing Facilities
The current rule requires federally approved livestock marketing facilities to meet certain requirements in order to qualify as such a market. The proposed rule also requires these facilities to:
Be licensed as a Class A animal market.
Be medically separated.
Test animals for specified diseases prior to import.Intermediate Livestock Handling Facility Certification
The current rule specifies requirements to be approved as an intermediate livestock handling facility under bovine imports. The proposed rule moves these requirements to the general import section because these facilities may handle a variety of imported species, including bovine. The proposed rule also specifies that the department will grant or deny an intermediate livestock handling facility certificate within 60 days after a complete application is filed and charge a nonrefundable fee of $140 for the certificate. The certificate will expire June 30, annually. The proposed rule specifies the reasons for which a certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked; allows the department to make certificates conditional; and requires that animals imported to a certified handling facility be tested for diseases specified under the rule prior to import.
Tuberculosis-Free Herd Certification
The current rule allows a herd of bovines, farm-raised deer, and goats to be certified as tuberculosis-free. The proposed rule clarifies that all commingled species must be of comparable tuberculosis status or risk suspension or revocation of certification.
Johne’s Disease Certified Veterinarians
The current rule requires that veterinarians recertify for Johne’s risk assessment or management plans (RAMPs) and Johne’s vaccination every five years, and pay an initial and renewal fee of $50. The proposed rule eliminates the renewal requirement and the fee for initial certification.
Bovine Identification
The current rule specifies slaughter identification requirements under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 10 that differ slightly from the requirements under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 12. The proposed rule will make the provisions the same, including deleting the requirement of where a back tag must be placed. Swine Slaughter Identification
The current rule requires a slaughtering establishment operator to apply (if the swine does not already have it) an official back tag, premises identification number ear tag, or other approved slaughter identification if the animal does not already have official identification. The following information must be recorded: The animal’s identification, date of receipt, name and address of the person from whom the animal was received, and the swine’s class.
The proposed rule will require a slaughtering establishment to apply identification to swine only if the animal does not pass the inspection process completed by state or federal inspectors or if the animal is tested for disease at the facility. Information must be recorded only if the animal is required to have identification applied.
The current rule requires that slaughtering establishments record the date identification was applied to the swine, if applicable, or a note that the swine already had identification upon arrival. The proposed rule no longer requires this information to be recorded.
Bovine Animal and Goat Imports
The current rule specifies bovine and goat import requirements. Except bovine animals and goats going directly to slaughter, no person may import a bovine animal or goat originating from a tuberculosis modified accredited state or a modified accredited zone in a state which has split multiple tuberculosis statuses (as determined by USDA) unless that person meets certain requirements.
One of those requirements is to obtain an import permit which will require the owner of a bovine animal or goat imported from a tuberculosis modified accredited state to have the animals tested for tuberculosis. The proposed rule clarifies that this provision pertains to owners of bovine animals and goats imported from a modified accredited zone as well.
Swine Disease Testing
Diseases to be tested. The current rule requires that swine be tested for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and the Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease (SECD) within 90 days prior to movement into or within Wisconsin.
The proposed rule requires swine to be tested for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) rather than SECD. Testing for SECD includes testing for the Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE), and PEDv. At the time the rule requirements were originally developed, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) required reporting of PEDv and PDCoV. However, recently, the USDA discontinued the required reporting of these diseases. Although no longer required to be reported, PEDv remains a devastating disease in swine, causing diarrhea and vomiting, and death of 50-100 percent of infected piglets. Thus, the proposed rule will require that swine continue to be tested for PEDv. While harmful, PDCoV and TGE are not nearly as damaging, so testing for these diseases will no longer be required. Since the current rule became effective, all of the SECD positive cases for which herd plans have been developed have been for weak positive for PDCoV. It has also been found that birds carry their own Delta coronaviruses that can interfere/cross-react with the swine tests. There is no cost effective or reasonable test for producers to differentiate between the avian and porcine viruses. The state veterinarian granted an order waiving requirements for PDCoV testing on March 27, 2018.
Number of swine tested in pooled samples. The current rule specifies requirements for pooled sample testing of swine for PRRS and SECD. Again, except for PEDv, swine will no longer be tested for the diseases that fall under SECD. Currently, if using the method of collecting a pooled sample of swine by hanging a cotton rope in a group of swine:
Herds with less than 150 swine must have one pooled sample of swine collected and tested. The number of swine to be pooled for samples is determined by the owner in consultation with the herd veterinarian.
Herds with 150 or more swine must have three pooled samples of at least five swine collected and tested.
