4 Tex. Admin. Code § 43.1 – Cattle (All Dairy and Beef Animals, genus Bos), and Bison (genus Bison)

(a) Exposed to or infected with. Whenever the Texas Animal Health Commission has reason to believe that any livestock has been exposed to or is infected with tuberculosis, that premises and all livestock thereon shall be quarantined subject to the tuberculin test.
(b) Who may administer tuberculin test. Tuberculin tests shall be conducted by a veterinarian employed by the Texas Animal Health Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture or by an accredited veterinarian. All tests are official tests and must be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission on VS Form 6-22 and continuation sheet VS Form 6-22B or an official health certificate. Accredited veterinarians are permitted to use only the .1cc caudal fold test.
(c) Restraint. Each animal must be effectively restrained by use of halter, nose lead, squeeze gate, or chute, or other methods expedient to the prevailing situation. A good injection is imperative and the animal must be properly restrained in order to carry out this procedure correctly.
(d) Identification. All animals tested must be permanently individually identified by eartag, tattoo, or fire brand. Chain numbers are not acceptable.
(e) Equipment. Needles used in applying the tuberculin test will be limited exclusively to those of 26 gauge and 3/8 inch exposure. Syringe shall be a tuberculin syringe.
(f) Site of injection. In routine testing the caudal fold shall be the site of injection. Cervical tests will be used only by regulatory veterinarians.
(g) Procedure for injection.
1. (1) Caudal fold. Prior to injection, examine the caudal fold for any abnormalities that may confuse the interpretation of the test. Note and point them out to the owner. When necessary, clean the site with dry cotton or cotton moistened with alcohol and, in routine testing, inject .1cc of tuberculin intradermally into the precleaned site. In making the injection, extreme care must be taken to assure intradermal inoculation of tuberculin. Substantially all of the exposed needle should be inserted to prevent leakage of the tuberculin at the injection site. The syringe and needle must be maintained in a clean condition. This can be done by using dry cotton to remove all foreign matter from the needle and syringe. This procedure requires very little time and will help reduce the possibility of an abscess which might confuse the reading.
2. (2) Single cervical. The injection site is the preclipped side of the neck in the middle third of the distance between the point of the shoulder and the angle of the jaw, on a line parallel to the spine of the scapula. Inject .1cc of tuberculin intradermally in the center of the clipped area.
3. (3) Comparative cervical. M. avian and m. bovis balanced PPD tuberculin is injected intradermally into two separate preclipped areas of the neck. The upper site (avian PPD) is about four inches below the crest of the neck, the lower site (bovine PPD) is five inches below the upper site.
(h) Dosage. One-tenth cubic centimeter (.1cc) of tuberculin is used for routine caudal fold testing and for testing of herds under quarantine that have not had m. bovis lesion reactors revealed in it. Two-tenths cubic centimeter (.2cc) of tuberculin is used by regulatory veterinarians in herds that have had m. bovis lesion reactors revealed in it or on individual animals from an m. bovis herd. Dosage for comparative cervical testing will be .1cc of balanced m. bovis and m. avian tuberculins.
(i) Observation. Careful consideration must be given to the observation of each animal. It is essential that the site of injection on the properly restrained animal be carefully examined by palpation or measurement approximately 72 hours following injection. Visual observation only of animals can in no way be considered an acceptable procedure.
(j) Reporting extent of reaction with symbols--caudal fold. Tissue disturbance may vary from those barely perceptible to a swelling the size of a fist or larger. The response may be hard and circumscribed or soft and diffused with no distinct demarcation. The size, shape, or consistency of the tissue response does not reflect the degree of infection. The interpretation and classification of tuberculin responses, therefore, must be based on the professional judgment of the testing veterinarian. The following are guidelines for classification of cattle tested with the caudal fold test.
1. (1) Reactor "R"--Animals showing a circumscribed swelling 5mm. in diameter (3/16 of an inch) (P₁) or a diffuse swelling twice as thick as the normal caudal fold (X₂) or greater response to tuberculin on routine test should be classified as reactors unless in the professional judgment of the testing veterinarian a suspect classification is justified.
2. (2) Suspect "S"--Animals showing a response to tuberculin not classified as reactor with the exception noted below.
3. (3) Negative "N"--Animals showing no response to tuberculin or those animals with responses which have been classified negative for m. bovis by the comparative cervical tuberculin test.
4. (4) Single cervical.
  1. (A) Reactor "R"--Animals showing any swelling at the injection site.
  2. (B) Negative "N"--Animals showing no swelling at the injection site.
5. (5) Comparative cervical test. The skin thickness of each site of each animal is recorded. The preinjection measurement of each animal is then subtracted from the post-injection measurement and the difference for each site is determined. This "skin" thickness difference value is plotted on the scattergram, VS Form 6-22D. Any animal in the suspect zone on the consecutive comparative cervical test will be classified Reactor "R." The classification of each animal will be according to the zone into which the results are graphed.
  1. (A) Negative "N."
  2. (B) Suspect "S."
  3. (C) Reactor "R."
(k) Reporting of tuberculin tests. A report of all tuberculin tests, including the individual identification of each animal of eartag number or tattoo age, sex, and breed, and a record of the size of the responses, shall be submitted promptly to the Texas Animal Health Commission.
(l) Requirements. When suspects are classified using the caudal fold test, the following requirements are to be accomplished.
1. (1) Report suspects on test chart with a classification of tuberculin responses and forward chart to Texas Animal Health Commission promptly.
2. (2) Inform the owner that:
  1. (A) as a result of this test, the suspect shall be quarantined to the premise. This quarantine will be issued by the testing veterinarian;
  2. (B) it is recommended that the suspect animals be isolated from the remainder of the herd. If this is a dairy herd, it is also recommended that these animals be milked last;
  3. (C) if the herd owner desires to sell the suspect(s), the testing veterinarian must contact the Texas Animal Health Commission, who will issue a VS Form 1-27 permit for movement of these animals direct to slaughter at a plant under veterinary inspection;
  4. (D) all suspects will be retested within 10 days by the comparative cervical test or in 60 to 90 days utilizing the comparative cervical test or caudal fold test by a representative of the Texas Animal Health Commission. This representative will contact the owner to set a test date; and
  5. (E) no indemnity will be paid on animals in the suspect classification.
(m) Handling the caudal fold suspect herd.
1. (1) If the suspects are negative on retest, all restrictions are removed.
2. (2) If the caudal fold suspects are slaughtered and have no gross lesions of tuberculosis, all restrictions are removed.
3. (3) Any suspect to the comparative cervical test that is slaughtered with no gross lesions shall be considered as negative. Suspects to the comparative cervical test that are not slaughtered will be retested in 60 to 90 days and if they are negative all restrictions are removed. If the suspect remains a suspect, the animal will be classed as a reactor and branded.
4. (4) Reactors to the comparative cervical test will be branded and tagged and sold direct to slaughter.
(n) Disposal of reactors. All animals classified as tuberculin reactors must have a red reactor tag placed in the left ear and a fire brand "T" at least two by two inches in size, high on the left hip near the tailhead. A representative of the Texas Animal Health Commission will:
1. (1) issue a permit to ship reactor animals direct to slaughter. Reactor animals must be slaughtered within 15 days of classification;
2. (2) complete indemnity claims (VS Form 1-23). If more than seven animals are involved, make all individual entries on continuation sheets (VS Form 1-23A). If more than 10 animals are involved, a professional appraiser may be used;
3. (3) issue Texas Animal Health Commission disease quarantine;
4. (4) complete history and record sheet;
5. (5) complete statement of appraisal;
6. (6) arrange for cleaning and disinfecting;
7. (7) mail completed Station Form 6-2 (cleaning and disinfecting form);
8. (8) inform the owner that if he desires to sell any animals which are in the quarantined herd, he must write or phone the Texas Animal Health Commission to request a permit; and
9. (9) inform the owner that any animals added to his herd while under quarantine that are not kept apart from the rest of the herd are not eligible for federal indemnity if they should later react to the tuberculin test.
(o) Indemnification to cattle owners. After said reactors are slaughtered, the owner shall submit to the Texas Animal Health Commission a written statement made by said establishment showing the amount of salvage paid for each animal.
1. (1) Cattle that are slaughtered in compliance with the tuberculosis program or as a result of a response on an official test can be indemnified as follows. Subject to the availability of funds, the Commission will pay the owner the unreimbursed amount determined by deducting the salvage value and the federal indemnity from the appraised value not to exceed:
  1. (A) 1,000 for each animal classified as a suspect or a reactor;
  2. (B) $100 for each negative exposed animal slaughtered as a result of a whole herd depopulation.
2. (2) All animals in the herd must be tested for indemnity to be paid.
3. (3) All provisions of the law and the regulations of the Commission must be complied with for indemnity to be paid.
(p) Designated pens. Cattle exposed to tuberculosis may be moved into designated pens in feedlots provided they meet the following requirements.
1. (1) All cattle enter designated pens approved under and meeting the requirements set out in §35.1 of this title (relating to Definitions), and §35.1(r) of these regulations.
2. (2) All cattle must have been tested negative to tuberculosis within 60 days prior to placement in the designated pens.
(q) Retesting and release of quarantine.
1. (1) Sale of feeder calves from quarantined herds will be restricted. Feeder calves under 12 months of age that have passed a tuberculin test within 60 days may be permitted to move intrastate to a quarantined feedlot or designated pens in a feedlot.
2. (2) Herds in which mycobacterium bovis infection has been disclosed shall remain under quarantine and must pass two tuberculin tests at intervals of at least 60 days and one additional test after six months. The comparative cervical test will not be used in m. bovis herds except when approved by the executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. Minimum quarantine period shall be ten months from slaughter of lesion reactors.
3. (3) Herds in which NGL reactor(s) only occur and no evidence of mycobacterium bovis infection has been disclosed may be released from quarantine after a 60 day negative retest on the entire herd. This will be a .1cc caudal test. Any caudal fold responses may be retested using the comparative cervical test.
4. (4) Suspects in herds where only suspect animals are disclosed shall be quarantined to the premises until retest and classified negative or shipped direct to slaughter under permit. If no gross lesions at slaughter, quarantine will be released.
(r) Special retests of high-risk herds.
1. (1) In herds where mycobacterium bovis infection has been confirmed but the herd not depopulated, five annual tests on the entire herd, followed by two tests at three-year intervals, shall be applied following the release of quarantine.
2. (2) In a newly assembled herd on premises where a tuberculous herd has been depopulated, two annual herd tests shall be applied to all cattle; the first test to be applied approximately six months after assembly of the new herd. These tests shall be followed by two complete herd tests at three-year intervals. If the premises are vacated for one year, these requirements may be waived.
(s) 6-35 traceback (animals which show lesions which are compatible or suggestive with bovine TB at slaughter establishments). When a 6-35 is received on a herd, the entire herd must be quarantined and all cattle tested. The testing will be conducted by a representative of the Texas Animal Health Commission.
1. (1) If the entire herd is negative, the quarantine is released and no further testing will be required unless additional tracebacks are received.
2. (2) If the information is a direct trace to the herd, all responding animals will be classed as a reactor.
3. (3) If the information is an indirect trace, the comparative cervical test can be used on any responding animals.
4. (4) When a 6-35 report is traced back to a feedlot, no test will be conducted on the animals remaining in the feedlot. However, an extensive effort should be made to locate the herd of origin. Cattle in feedlots known to be exposed to tuberculous cattle shall be quarantined and shipped under permit directly to slaughter.
(t) Tuberculosis accredited herd.
1. (1) General provisions; definition. "Accredited herd"--An accredited herd is one which has passed at least two consecutive annual tuberculin tests and no other evidence of bovine tuberculosis has been disclosed; all testing is to be conducted at owner's expense.
2. (2) Accredited herd plan; animals to be tested. Testing of herds for accreditation or reaccreditation shall include all cattle over 24 months of age and any animals other than natural additions under 24 months of age. All natural additions shall be individually identified and recorded on the test report as members of herd at the time of the annual test.
3. (3) Herd additions. Herd additions must originate directly from one of the following:
  1. (A) accredited herd.
  2. (B) herd in an accredited free state.
  3. (C) herd in a modified accredited area that has passed a herd test of all animals over 24 months of age within 12 months, and the individual animals for addition were negative to the tuberculin test conducted within 60 days.
  4. (D) herd in a modified accredited area not meeting requirements of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph, individual animals for addition must pass negative test within 60 days prior to entering the premises of the accredited herd and must be kept in isolation from all members of the accredited herd until negative to a test conducted after 60 days of date of entry. Animals added under subparagraphs (B) and (C) and this subparagraph shall not receive accredited herd status for sale purposes until they have been members of the herd at least 60 days and are included in a herd retest.
4. (4) Accreditation and reaccreditation. To qualify for accredited herd status, the herd must pass at least two consecutive annual tuberculin tests with no evidence of bovine tuberculosis disclosed. All animals must be a bona fide member of the herd. Qualified herd may be issued a certificate by the local state and federal officials. The accreditation period will be 12 months (365 days) from the anniversary date and not 12 months from the date of the reaccreditation test. To qualify for reaccreditation, the herd must pass an annual test within a period of ten to 14 months from the anniversary date.
  1. (A) Modified Tuberculosis Accredited Area plan. The rules and regulations governing the Modified Tuberculosis Accredited Area Plan will be the Uniform Methods and Rules-bovine tuberculosis eradication, as adopted by the U.S. Animal Health Association and approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  2. (B) Accredited Free State Plan. The rules and regulations governing the Accredited Free State Plan will be uniform methods and rules-bovine tuberculosis eradication, as adopted by the U.S. Animal Health Association and approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Source Note:The provisions of this §43.1 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective January 2, 1978, 2 TexReg 4902; amended to be effective May 20, 1991, 16 TexReg 2470; amended to be effective July 20, 1992, 17 TexReg 4749; amended to be effective October 15, 1995, 20 TexReg 7483; amended to be effective September 30, 1996, 21 TexReg 8217; amended to be effective February 5, 1998, 23 TexReg 739; amended to be effective August 27, 2000, 25 TexReg 8024.