1. (a) Bulls that have been determined to be infected by culture or by RT-PCR test and/or by confirmatory RT-PCR test shall be placed under hold order along with all other non-virgin bulls in the bull herd. Infected bulls must be isolated from all female cattle from the time of diagnosis until final disposition or as directed by the Commission. Breeding bulls which have been disclosed as reactors may be retested provided: the owners, or their agents initiate a request to the TAHC Regional Director where the bull is located; that retests are conducted within 30 days after the date of the original test; test samples for retests are submitted to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for testing; and the positive bull is held under quarantine along with all other exposed bulls on the premise. If they are retested, they must have two negative tests by PCR to be released within 30 days of the initial test.
2. (b) Positive bulls may be moved directly to slaughter or to a livestock market for sale directly to slaughter. In order to move, the bulls shall be individually identified by official identification device on a VS 1-27 movement permit from the ranch to the market and from the market to the slaughter facility, or from the ranch directly to the slaughter facility. Movement to slaughter shall occur within 30 days from disclosure of positive test results (or confirmatory test results) or as directed by the Commission.
3. (c) All bulls that are part of a herd in which one or more bulls have been found to be infected shall be placed under hold order in isolation away from female cattle until they have undergone at least two additional culture tests with negative results (not less than a total of three negative culture tests or two negative RT-PCR tests) within 60 days of the initial test unless handled in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. All bulls remaining in the herd from which an infected bull(s) has been identified would have to be tested two more times by culture or one more time by RT-PCR test. Any bull positive on the second or third test would be classified as positive. All bulls negative to all three culture tests or both RT-PCR tests would be classified as negative and could be released for breeding.
4. (d) A quarantined herd with breeding bulls that tested negative on the initial test may be maintained with the herd if they develop a Trichomoniasis herd control plan, with the herd owner and their private veterinarian, that will address herd management practices to address this disease and have all breeding bulls tested annually. This will only be authorized for a maximum of three (3) years, then all exposed bulls shall be tested in accordance with this section.

Source Note:The provisions of this §38.3 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 1977; amended to be effective November 2, 2010, 35 TexReg 9687; amended to be effective August 14, 2011, 36 TexReg 5090.