Wyo. Code R. 051-0001-15
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 15: Trichomoniasis
Effective Date: 05/20/2016 to 11/08/2024
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 051.0001.15.05202016
Section 1. Authority to Create Rules. Pursuant to the authority vested in the Wyoming Livestock Board by virtue of W. S. §11-18-103(a)(v), the following rules are hereby promulgated.
Section 2. Purpose of Rules. These rules are adopted to prevent the introduction of, and control the spread of, Trichomoniasis, a venereal disease in Bovine.
Section 3. Severability. If any portion of these rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the rules shall continue in effect.
Section 4. Definitions Used in Rules. The following definitions apply to these rules:
(a) 'Approved Livestock Market' means a livestock market that is licensed by the Board.
(b) 'Board' means the Wyoming Livestock Board, whose current address is 1934 Wyott Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0051, (307) 777-7515.
(c) 'Bovine' means sexually intact male and female Bovine of the genus Bos of any breed.
(d) 'Brand Inspection Form' means a document issued by the Board that is used to record the change of ownership and/or movement of livestock both intrastate and interstate.
(e) 'Certified Trichomoniasis Negative' means any bull that has tested negative to two (2) PCR tests conducted within seven (7) to twenty-one (21) days of each other with no reproductive exposure for at least thirty (30) days prior to the first test.
(f) 'Common Grazing' means any common pasturing arrangement, in which Bovine from two (2) or more Herd Units not under common ownership may commingle. This includes common grazing on all private, state, tribal, or federal lands, or any combination thereof.
(g) 'Designated Feedlot' means any feedlot that is designated by the Board to feed – with no provision for grazing - and properly identify and manage Restricted Livestock in a designated portion of the feedlot, preventing direct contact between restricted and non-restricted livestock.
(h) 'Direct Movement' means movement in which the Bovine are not unloaded en route to their final destination.
(i) 'Feedlot' means a confined dry lot area for feeding of animals with no facilities for pasturing or grazing.
(j) 'Herd Unit' means a group of one or more Bovine under individual or multiple ownership that is managed as one herd on a year-round basis.
(k) “Infected Herd Unit” means a Herd Unit in which one or more Bovine have been diagnosed as a Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine. The State Veterinarian, in cooperation with the livestock producer and the Trichomoniasis Certified Veterinarian will determine what constitutes an Infected Herd Unit.
(l) “Official Trichomoniasis Test” means an approved PCR test, conducted on a properly collected and cultivated or processed sample, to detect the presence of the organism Tritrichomonas foetus and properly recorded on an official Trichomoniasis test record provided by the Board. All Official Trichomoniasis Testing shall be performed only by authorized personnel at an approved veterinary laboratory. Staff from the Veterinary Laboratory shall determine if the sample was properly collected and cultivated or processed.
(m) “Official Trichomoniasis Test Identification Tag” means an ear tag that is authorized by the Board and placed in the right ear of a Test Eligible Bovine at the time of the first Official Trichomoniasis Test prior to that immediate breeding season.
(n) “PCR test” means the Polymerase Chain Reaction test, a test which detects genetic material of Tritrichomonas foetus. Staff from the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory shall advise the State Veterinarian on the protocol for sample collection and processing for this test.
(o) “Pooled Samples” means samples combined at the veterinary laboratory from more than one bull belonging to one owner. No more than five (5) individual samples may be combined into one Pooled Sample.
(p) “Premises” means the ground, area, buildings and equipment occupied by one or more Bovine.
(q) “Quarantine” means a document issued by the State Veterinarian or his designee that restricts movement of specific Bovine to premises as determined by the State Veterinarian.
(r) “Recognized Slaughter Establishment” means any slaughter establishment operating under the provisions of either:
(i) The Federal Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. § 601 through § 695, including all amendments as of January 1, 2016, being too long and cumbersome to incorporate the full text, shall be incorporated by reference in these rules. The incorporated material does not include any later amendments of the adopted Federal Meat Inspection Act past January 1, 2016. This document is available to the public at the office of the Board and online at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/rulemaking/federal-meat-inspection-act; Or,
(ii) The 2012 Wyoming Food Safety Rule found at Chapter 1 – Purpose, Variances, Definitions, Demonstrations of Knowledge, and Health Status, as promulgated and amended by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Chapter 1 of the 2012 Wyoming Food Safety Rule, being too long and cumbersome to incorporate the full text, shall be incorporated by reference in these rules. The incorporated material does not include any later amendments of the adopted Chapter 1 rule past January 1, 2016. This document is available to the public at the office of the Board and online at: http://agriculture.wy.gov/images/stories/pdf/chs/foodrule/chapt12012.pdf (s) 'Restricted Livestock' means untested Trichomoniasis Test Eligible male Bovine, Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine, Trichomoniasis Exposed Bovine, Brucellosis non-vaccinated adult females, and other livestock that are determined as such by the Wyoming State Veterinarian.
(t) 'Slaughter' means the slaughter of a Bovine within fourteen (14) days at a Recognized Slaughter Establishment.
(u) 'Trichomoniasis' means a contagious venereal disease of Bovine, caused by a protozoan, Tritrichomonas foetus, and characterized by infertility, pyometra, abortion, and reproductive inefficiency.
(v) 'Trichomoniasis Certified Veterinarian' means a veterinarian who is licensed in Wyoming and has successfully completed a Board approved Trichomoniasis certification training, passed the test, and been issued a certificate.
(w) 'Trichomoniasis Exposed Bovine' means any Bovine that has had commingling or fenceline contact with Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine, or an Infected Herd Unit.
(x) 'Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine' means a Bovine that has tested positive to an Official Trichomoniasis Test.
(y) 'Trichomoniasis Quarantine Release Plan' means a written document outlining practices a livestock producer will conduct to qualify for release of quarantine of a Trichomoniasis infected herd.
(z) 'Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bull' means 1) any non virgin, sexually intact, male Bovine; 2) any bull over twenty-four (24) months of age; or 3) any weaned bull from a Trichomoniasis Infected or Exposed Herd Unit.
(aa) 'V Brand' means a 2'X 3' hot iron single V character brand applied to the left tail-head of a Bovine signifying that the Bovine is a Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine or a Trichomoniasis Exposed Male Bovine that has not been tested and Certified Trichomoniasis Negative.
(bb) 'Virgin Bovine' means a sexually intact male or female bovine that has not had sexual contact with a Bovine of the opposite gender.
(cc) 'VS Form 1-27' means an official restricted movement document issued by the State Veterinarian or his designee.
(dd) 'Wyoming State Veterinarian' means a Wyoming Accredited Veterinarian employed by the Board who serves as the State Veterinarian for the State of Wyoming, as outlined in W.S. 11-19-101.
(a) Pursuant to W.S. §11-19-102, any person who knows or suspects that there is Trichomoniasis among Bovine that he or she owns or manages shall immediately report the same to the State Veterinarian.
(b) Any veterinarian who suspects or knows that there is Trichomoniasis among Bovine in a herd shall immediately report the same to the State Veterinarian.
(c) The Trichomoniasis Certified Veterinarian, who has collected the specimen from a Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine, shall notify the owner and the State Veterinarian within twenty-four (24) hours of learning the results.
(d) All Official Trichomoniasis Test records shall be submitted to the office of the Board within thirty (30) days of testing by the veterinarian conducting the test unless already reported by the testing laboratory.
(a) All Official Trichomoniasis Test samples must be collected only by a Trichomoniasis Certified Veterinarian. The collection and submission protocol shall be consistent with the recommendations and requirements of the testing laboratory. A copy of the protocols may be obtained from the office of the Board. Staff from the testing veterinary laboratory shall determine if samples were properly collected, and if not, notify the State Veterinarian of this information
(b) Trichomoniasis Certified Veterinarians shall recertify at least once every five (5) years.
(c) The Board will provide certification programs as needed.
(a) All bulls tested for Trichomoniasis shall be identified with an Official Trichomoniasis Test Identification Tag which shall be recorded on the test record along with any other identification present. Bulls being tested strictly to meet other states' importation requirements must be identified with official USDA-approved identification tags and do not need to have the Wyoming Trichomoniasis tag applied.
(b) All Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls sold or leased for reproductive purposes in Wyoming shall be tested one time by PCR prior to the sale or lease, the issuance of a Brand Inspection Form, and/or delivery of the bull. The following are exemptions to this requirement:
(i) If adequate facilities do not exist to handle and test a Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bull prior to a private sale or lease transaction, the owner may submit to the State Veterinarian a written request allowing for the Direct Movement and holding of the bull at a satisfactory testing location under a Quarantine issued by the State Veterinarian or his designee until tested negative on one PCR test which shall be completed within thirty (30) days of movement and prior to commingling with female Bovine;
(ii) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls from a herd which is changing ownership as a whole and will continue to reside on the same ranch property may be exempted from change of ownership Trichomoniasis testing requirements by the State Veterinarian upon request of the owner, buyer, and herd veterinarian;
(iii) Virgin sexually intact male Bovine more than twenty-four (24) months of age may be exempted from Trichomoniasis testing requirements by the State Veterinarian if the owner and herd veterinarian request a testing waiver in writing and supply any necessary information requested by the State Veterinarian to make a waiver determination.
(c) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls sold for reproductive purposes in Wyoming through an Approved Livestock Market must have a negative Official Trichomoniasis Test within two weeks prior to sale or be sold for slaughter or to a Designated Feedlot only.
(a) All Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls that will be grazed in Common Grazing or used by Common Grazing participants for breeding purposes prior to the Common Grazing shall test negative to one (1) Official Trichomoniasis Test prior to turn out. This test may be either an individual sample test or a Pooled Sample test with no more than five bull's samples from one owner pooled together at the testing laboratory. The following are exemptions to this requirement:
(i) Virgin male Bovine less than twenty-four (24) months of age;
(ii) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls having tested negative on an Official Trichomoniasis Test after the previous breeding season and which have had no subsequent reproductive exposure;
(iii) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls used in Common Grazing arrangements may be exempted from testing by the State Veterinarian if all owners of Herd Units participating in the Common Grazing arrangement submit a single group testing waiver request in writing.
(b) A copy of the negative Trichomoniasis test record shall be supplied to the offices of the Board prior to Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls being released for Common Grazing.
(c) A producer who manages Bovine on Common Grazing may request the State Veterinarian to investigate compliance with these rules by participants of the Common Grazing arrangement directly involving that producer's Bovine. The State Veterinarian, or his designee, shall investigate and take appropriate action in a timely manner.
(a) Trichomoniasis Exposed bulls shall be quarantined until the test requirement outlined in (b) or (c) below is met and results are reported to the offices of the Board.
(b) One Official Trichomoniasis Test is required on all Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls that have had fenceline contact with a Trichomoniasis infected Bull or herd unit during the breeding season. The test must be completed within sixty (60) days of notification by the State Veterinarian or his designee unless otherwise approved by the State Veterinarian. This shall not be a Pooled Sample test.
(c) Two Official Trichomoniasis Tests are required on all Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls that have commingled with a Trichomoniasis-infected bull or Herd unit during the breeding season. The test shall not be on Pooled Samples. The following are exemptions to (b) and (c) above, subject to the State Veterinarian's prior written approval after risk evaluation of the exposed herd:
(i) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls V-branded and sold for Slaughter, moving via Direct Movement and accompanied by a VS Form 1-27;
(ii) Trichomoniasis Test Eligible Bulls V-branded and moved via Direct Movement to a Designated Feedlot for terminal feeding, accompanied by a VS Form 1-27.
(a) Any male Bovine that breaches a fence and commingles with another producer's Bovine shall be tested once with the PCR test if that producer requests an Official Trichomoniasis Test. The test, if required shall not be on Pooled Samples. The requirement to test is subject to the discretion of the State Veterinarian. The owner of the offending Bovine shall bear all costs for the requested Official Trichomoniasis Test.
(b) The requesting producer shall contact the owner of the offending Bovine and the offices of the Board within thirty (30) days of the breach, requesting that the Bovine be tested.
(c) The requesting producer shall provide verifying documentation that another producer's Bovine commingled with his Bovine. This may include a brand inspection, photos, and/or individual identification.
(d) The State Veterinarian shall monitor the status of the event and ensure that the owner of the offending animals complies with this rule.
(a) The sale, lease, or movement of Bovine from a Trichomoniasis Infected Herd Unit for reproductive purposes is strictly prohibited.
(b) Any Bovine testing positive to an Official Trichomoniasis Test and the Infected Herd Unit shall immediately be placed under Quarantine by the Board. Quarantine is considered in effect at the time that the herd owner is notified of a positive test.
(c) The owner, lessor, manager, or other person who has charge over a Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine shall provide the State Veterinarian the names and addresses of all owners of Bovine which the Trichomoniasis Infected Bovine may have had commingling or fenceline contact with, and notify all adjacent landowners in writing of the herd infection within seven (7) days of the positive Official Trichomoniasis Test results.
(d) A Trichomoniasis Quarantine Release Plan shall be developed by the State Veterinarian and the herd owner.
(e) The owner of a Trichomoniasis Infected male Bovine shall apply a V Brand on any infected Bovine within seven (7) days of notification of positive test results and prior to moving the Trichomoniasis Infected male Bovine from the Quarantined Premises. Trichomoniasis Exposed male Bovine that are moved from an Infected Herd unit without testing are also required to be V Branded.
(f) Any Trichomoniasis Infected male Bovine must move in Direct Movement for Slaughter at a Recognized Slaughter Establishment or for feeding in a Designated Feedlot immediately followed by Direct Movement for Slaughter at a Recognized Slaughter Establishment accompanied with a VS Form 1-27.
(g) All bulls in an Infected Herd Unit shall be held under Quarantine until Certified Trichomoniasis Negative. Pooled Samples shall not be used in Trichomoniasis infected herds.
(h) The following are exemptions to this requirement upon written approval of the Wyoming State Veterinarian:
(i) Bulls V-branded and sent by Direct Movement to Slaughter at a Recognized Slaughter Establishment accompanied by a VS Form 1-27;
(ii) Bulls V-branded and sent by Direct Movement to a Designated Feedlot accompanied by a VS Form 1-27;
(iii) Unweaned bull calves.
(i) The herd owner/manager is required to inform the State Veterinarian of the total number of bulls and the total number of sexually intact female Bovine in the Infected Herd Unit.
(j) The Infected Herd Unit owner or manager shall assist the State Veterinarian in determining the destination of all sexually intact non-virgin male Bovine sold during the twelve (12) months prior to the diagnosis of Trichomoniasis. The State Veterinarian shall undertake all reasonable efforts to notify the recipients of the Bovine.
(a) Any sexually intact non-virgin female Bovine in an Infected Herd Unit shall be held under Quarantine. The following are exemptions subject to the State Veterinarian's prior written approval as part of the Trichomoniasis Quarantine Release Plan:
(i) Virgin, sexually intact female Bovine less than eighteen (18) months of age accompanied by an owner signed affidavit attesting to their virginity;
(ii) Female Bovine not exposed to any sexually intact male Bovine for at least 180 days;
(iii) Female Bovine determined to be at least 120 days pregnant as determined by a Wyoming licensed veterinarian;
(iv) Female Bovine moved by Direct Movement to Slaughter at a Recognized Slaughter establishment accompanied by a VS Form 1-27;
(v) Female Bovine V-branded and moved by Direct Movement to a Designated Feedlot accompanied by a VS Form 1-27;
(vi) Female Bovine sold for purposes of feeding under quarantine for at least 180 days. The State Veterinarian may waive this requirement at his discretion.
(b) The Infected Herd Unit owner or manager shall assist the State Veterinarian in determining the destination of all non-virgin female Bovine sold during the twelve (12) months prior to the diagnosis of Trichomoniasis in a herd. The State Veterinarian shall undertake all reasonable efforts to notify the recipients of the Bovine.
Section 13. Movement of Bovine Held Pursuant to Quarantine. Trichomoniasis Infected or Exposed Bovine shall not be removed from a Quarantined Premises unless approved by the State Veterinarian in writing unless moving via Direct Movement to Slaughter or to a Designated Feedlot and accompanied by a VS Form 1-27.
Section 14. Release of Quarantine. The release of any Quarantine shall be subject to these rules, the requirements of a Trichomoniasis Quarantine Release Plan, and at the discretion of the State Veterinarian.
Section 15. Bovine used for Recreational and Exhibition Purposes.
(a) Sexually intact male Bovine used for recreational and exhibition purposes shall remain under confinement at the recreational or exhibition Premises and shall not be allowed to commingle with sexually intact female Bovine.
(b) Any bull that commingles with sexually intact female Bovine shall be tested for Trichomoniasis with one (1) PCR test. The test shall not be on Pooled Samples. The owner of the offending bull shall bear all costs associated with the testing.