OAR 603-011-1720: Procedure for Official Test and Quarantine – Brucellosis

(1) Brucellosis testing shall be performed by a veterinarian accredited by the USDA. (2) Animals tested for brucellosis shall be identified by placing in the right ear an identification device approved for use in cattle under 9 CFR Part 86 except that a previously placed identification tag may be used in lieu of placing a new tag in the ear. The number on each identification tag must be entered on the test chart together with the number placed on the tube holding the blood sample from each animal in such a manner that positive identification is assured. Within 7 days after testing any cattle for brucellosis, the veterinarian conducting or supervising the test, or the Department, shall deliver to the herd owner a copy of the test chart showing the test results. (3) If a reactor animal is confirmed by any Official Test for brucellosis, the reactor animal must be identified, branded, tagged, and slaughtered as follows. (a) Reactors to an Official Test for brucellosis shall not be retested without specific approval of the Department. (b) All reactors to an Official Test for brucellosis shall be branded with a “B” on the left jaw. The brand must be at least two inches in height, and shall be a hot iron brand. In addition to the brand, the reactor shall be tagged in the left ear with a reactor tag. (c) If the owner of a reactor animal to an Official Test for brucellosis claims indemnity for the slaughter of such animals, as provided by law, the reactor shall be slaughtered at a federally inspected slaughter establishment within 15 days of the date of appraisal. (d) No owner of a reactor animal, who is eligible for and who desires to receive indemnity, shall receive such indemnity unless the reactor is identified, branded, tagged, appraised, and slaughtered in accordance with this rule and ORS 596.615 to 596.681. (e) A reactor animal to an Official Test for brucellosis test must be: (A) Sold by the owner for immediate slaughter directly to a federally inspected slaughter establishment, for slaughter within 15 days from the date of the written notice of such infection to the herd owner; (B) Sold by the owner through a state-federal approved licensed auction market, to a federally inspected slaughter establishment, for slaughter within 15 days from the date of the written notice of such infection to the herd owner; or (C) Killed and buried, or sent to a rendering plant. (4) Suspects to any Official Test for brucellosis shall be quarantined and shall be retested between 30 to 60 days after the last test. If the retest is negative, the quarantine on such suspect shall be released. If after at least two retests, the suspect reaction to the brucellosis test continues, the Department may determine the disposition of this animal. (5) Any herd in which reactors to an Official Test for brucellosis are discovered shall be quarantined at the time the results of the test are known. Unless otherwise specified, a dairy herd shall be quarantined to the premises on which the herd was located at the time of the test, and a beef herd shall be quarantined to the area in which the herd was located at the time of the test.