1. (a) A herd plan agreement must be completed and signed with the Texas Animal Health Commission.
2. (b) Brucellosis testing will be on a herd basis including all offspring that are of an age to be tested. Certified free herd status is for a 12-month period.
3. (c) All male and female dairy goats that are part of the herd and are six months of age or older are required to be tested.

4. (d) Qualifying methods:

   1. (1) initial certification:

      1. (A) milk ring test (BRT). A minimum of four consecutive, negative milk ring tests conducted at not less than 90-day intervals, followed by a negative herd blood test conducted within 90 days after the last negative milk ring test;
      2. (B) complete herd blood test. Two consecutive, negative blood tests of all goats required to be tested not less than 10 months, nor more than 14 months apart;
   2. (2) recertification. A negative herd blood test of all dairy goats required to be tested, conducted within 60 days of the anniversary date, is required for continuous certification. If the certification test is conducted within 60 days of the anniversary date, the certification period will be 12 months from the anniversary and not 12 months from the date of the recertifying test. If a herd blood test for recertification is not conducted within 60 days following the anniversary date, then certification requirements are the same as for initial certification;

   3. (3) purchase of a certified free herd:

      1. (A) negative herd blood test is not required when the dairy goats remain on the premises. A new certificate will be issued in the owner's name. The anniversary date and the herd number will remain the same;
      2. (B) all or part of a certified free herd purchased and moved directly to premises without other goats may qualify without a test. A new certification number will be issued. The anniversary date of the new herd is established by the test date of the herd of origin or by a new herd test of the purchased goats.

5. (e) Qualifying standards:

   1. (1) herd infection rates. The individual herd must disclose no evidence of infection at the time of initial certification or recertification;
   2. (2) animal infection rates. The individual animals must disclose no evidence of infection at the time of initial herd certification or recertification;
   3. (3) suspects. When suspects are disclosed, an individual herd plan shall be developed for the future testing of the suspect(s) and the handling of the herd;
   4. (4) herd status, if reactors are classified. When one or more reactors are disclosed in a certified herd or in a herd under test for initial certification, it shall be considered affected and the quarantine and retest provisions shall apply. If a retest of a certified herd, or of animals from such a herd reveals only one reactor, the certification status will be suspended until all provisions for release of quarantine have been met. If more than one reactor is disclosed, the herd certification is terminated until all provisions for release of quarantine have been met, and when additional provisions for initial certified brucellosis free herd status required under subsection (d)(1) of this section, concerning initial certification, have been met. Herd retests for quarantine release, and to fulfill the provisions required under subsection (d)(1) of this section, concerning initial certification, may be conducted concurrently;
   5. (5) movement of goats into a certified brucellosis free herd from certified brucellosis free herds. No test requirements on dairy goats originating from certified brucellosis-free herds. Goats added to a certified brucellosis free herd under this provision shall not receive new herd status for sale purposes until they have passed a 60-120 day postentry retest.

6. (f) Proof of qualifying as a certified brucellosis free herd:

   1. (1) initially a certificate will be issued;
   2. (2) recertification will be done by renewal certificate showing only the certified free herd number, number of animals, and owner.
7. (g) Requirements following classification of a dairy goat as a reactor or suspect. Goat herds with animals classified as reactors or suspects will be quarantined and tested on the same schedule as cattle (see §35.2(l) of this title (relating to General Requirements)).

Source Note:The provisions of this §35.61 adopted to be effective September 28, 1990, 15 TexReg 5359.