1. (a) Test Requirements: All Texas origin bulls sold, leased, gifted, exchanged or otherwise change possession for breeding purposes in the State of Texas shall meet the following testing or certification requirements prior to sale or change of ownership in the state:

   1. (1) Be certified as virgin, by the breeder or his representative, on and accompanied by a breeder's certificate of virgin status; or
   2. (2) If from a herd of unknown status (a herd that has not had a whole herd test), be tested negative on three consecutive culture tests conducted not less than seven days apart or one RT-PCR test conducted within 60 days of sale or movement, be held separate from all female cattle since the test sample was collected, and be accompanied by a Trich test record showing the negative test results.
2. (b) Identification of Bulls: All bulls certified as virgin bulls shall be identified by an official identification device or method on the breeder's certification of virgin status. All bulls tested for Trichomoniasis shall be identified by an official identification device or method at the time the initial test sample is collected. Official identification includes: Official Alpha-numerical USDA metal ear tags (bangs tags), Official 840 RFID tags, Official 840 flap or bangle tags, and Official individual animal breed registry tattoo or breed registry individual animal brands. That identification shall be recorded on the test documents prior to submittal.
3. (c) Confirmatory Test: The owner of any bull which tests positive for Trichomoniasis may request in writing, within five days of the positive test, that the Commission allow a confirmatory test be performed on the positive bull. If the confirmatory test is positive the bull will be classified as infected with Trichomoniasis. If the confirmatory test is negative the bull shall be retested in not less than seven days to determine its disease status. If the confirmatory test reveals that the bull is only infected with fecal trichomonads, the test may be considered negative.

4. (d) Untested Bulls: Bulls presented for sale without a breeder's certification of virgin status or a Trich test record showing negative test results may:

   1. (1) Be sold for movement only directly to slaughter; or
   2. (2) Be sold for movement to an approved feedlot and then moved to slaughter or transported back to a livestock market under permit, issued by Commission personnel, to be sold in accordance with this chapter; or
   3. (3) Be sold and moved under a Hold Order to such place as specified by the Commission for testing to change status from a slaughter bull. Such bulls shall be officially individually identified with a permanent form of identification prior to movement, move to the designated location on a movement permit, and be held in isolation from female cattle at the designated location where the bull shall undergo three consecutive culture tests at least seven days apart or one RT-PCR test. If the results of any test are positive, the bull shall be classified as infected and be permitted for movement only directly to slaughter or to a livestock market for sale directly to slaughter; or
   4. (4) Be sold and moved to another physical location under permit issued by Commission personnel, and then to a livestock market or location to be resold within seven days from the date of issuance. The bull cannot be commingled with female cattle during the seven days.

Source Note:The provisions of this §38.2 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 1977; amended to be effective November 2, 2010, 35 TexReg 9687; amended to be effective February 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 494; amended to be effective February 4, 2014, 39 TexReg 484.