Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The department proposed to amend chapter 16-86 WAC to add trichomoniasis to the rule. The department proposed to add definitions, add a new section outlining the process and testing requirements, and add training requirements for veterinarians that will be performing the trichomoniasis testing.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-86-005.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 16.36 RCW.

     Other Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-13-160 on June 23, 2010.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Adding "or unknown breeding history" to WAC 16-86-115 (4)(c) to clarify.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 2, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: September 30, 2010.

Dan Newhouse

Director

OTS-3324.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-03-019, filed 1/9/09, effective 2/9/09)

WAC 16-86-005   Definitions.   In addition to the definitions found in RCW 16.36.005, the following definitions apply to this chapter:

     "Accredited veterinarian" means a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry in the state of Washington and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services to participate in state-federal cooperative programs.

     "Breed registry tattoo" means individual registry tattoos issued by breed associations.

     "Brucellosis vaccine" means only those Brucella abortus products that are approved by and produced under license of the USDA for injection into cattle to enhance their resistance to brucellosis.

     "Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA).

     "Director" means the director of WSDA or the director's authorized representative.

     "Herd plan" means a written management agreement between the animal owner and the state veterinarian, with possible input from a private accredited veterinarian designated by the owner, in which each participant agrees to undertake actions specified in the herd plan to control the spread of infectious, contagious, or communicable disease within and from an infected herd and to work toward eradicating the disease in the infected herd.

     "Official calfhood vaccinate" means female cattle between four and twelve months of age that are vaccinated with brucellosis vaccine at a calfhood dose (2cc subcutaneously).

     "Official individual identification" means identifying an animal or group of animals using devices or methods approved by the director, including, but not limited to, official tags, unique breed registry tattoos, and registered brands when accompanied by a certificate of inspection from a brand inspection authority who is recognized by the director.

     "Official Washington mature vaccinate" means female cattle over the age of twelve months that are native to Washington state, or originate from other class free states or countries to be determined on a case-by-case investigation by the director, and vaccinated with a reduced dose of brucellosis vaccine (0.25cc subcutaneously) under directions issued by the director.

     "Premises" means a location or physical address.

     "Timed events" means competitive events that take place where time elapsed is the factor that determines the placing of individuals competing in the event.

     "USDA" means the United States Department of Agriculture.

     "Vaccination tattoo" means a tattoo in the right ear bearing the United States registered shield and V preceded by a number indicating the quarter of the year and followed by a number corresponding to the last digit of the year in which the animal was vaccinated with strain 19 Brucella vaccine. For strain RB-51 calfhood vaccination, an R precedes the shield and V. In the case of strain RB-51 mature vaccination, an M precedes the shield and V. For strain RB-51 vaccinates, the last number of the tattoo corresponds to the last digit of the year in which vaccine was administered.

     "Virgin bull" means a sexually intact male bovine less than twelve months of age that is certified by the owner or the owner's designee with a signed statement as having had no breeding contact with female cattle.

[Statutory Authority: Chapters 16.36 and 34.05 RCW. 09-03-019, § 16-86-005, filed 1/9/09, effective 2/9/09; 08-01-094, § 16-86-005, filed 12/17/07, effective 1/17/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040. 99-09-025, § 16-86-005, filed 4/15/99, effective 5/16/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.096 and 16.36.040. 90-10-045 (Order 2035), § 16-86-005, filed 4/30/90, effective 5/31/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040 and 16.36.050. 87-08-020 (Order 1917), § 16-86-005, filed 3/25/87. Statutory Authority: Chapter 16.36 RCW. 84-08-037 (Order 1814), § 16-86-005, filed 3/30/84; Order 1539, § 16-86-005, filed 10/17/77.]

     (2) In the case of infected sexually intact bovine, the herd shall be quarantined pending an epidemiological investigation to determine the source of the infection.

     (3) All exposed herds will be identified by an accredited veterinarian in conjunction with the department. An exposed herd is defined as a cattle herd which has had, within the past twelve months, direct commingling or cross-fence contact with an infected herd during a time of potential breeding activity. The owner of exposed herds will be notified of the possible exposure and requested to test the herd using a qPCR test. All testing will be at the owner's expense.

     (4)(a) Infected bulls will be quarantined and branded high on the tail head by the department with a USDA regulatory S-brand, and will not be used for breeding.

     (b) Infected bulls must be slaughtered, sold for slaughter, sent to a restricted feedlot, or to a category 2 restricted holding facility to remain in slaughter channels. Infected bulls shall only be moved when accompanied by a USDA form VS 1-27.

     (c) Bulls of unknown origin or unknown breeding history offered for sale at a livestock market must be tested negative for trichomoniasis by a qPCR test before being turned out with breeding stock or must be sold for slaughter, sent to a restricted feedlot, or to a category 2 restricted holding facility to remain in slaughter channels.

     (d) A nonpregnant female, with no calf at side, which is identified by the owner as being from an infected herd and is offered for sale at a livestock market, must remain in slaughter channels.

     (5) The quarantine will be removed when all remaining bulls in the herd test negative to a second qPCR test for trichomoniasis and following proof of removal of infected bulls. Bulls must have a minimum of two negative qPCR tests at least one week apart for quarantine release. All bulls from infected herds, except virgin bulls, will be tested using a qPCR test the following trich-year before breeding. A trich-year means the period from September 1st to August 31st of any given year. Bulls from infected herds may not have to be tested the following trich-year if a herd plan has been approved by the state veterinarian.

     (6) Information that cattle have tested positive for trichomoniasis may be supplied to county extension agents, accredited veterinarians, and industry representatives. Each month, the department may publish a press release of counties that have infected herds.

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     (2) All official trichomoniasis testing of bulls in Washington state shall be performed by a certified, accredited veterinarian.

     (3) A schedule of training opportunities is available by contacting the department at:

     Washington State Department of Agriculture

     Animal Services Division

     1111 Washington Street S.E.

     P.O. Box 42577

     Olympia, Washington 98504-2577

     360-902-1878

     (4) Certified veterinarians shall utilize only official laboratories recognized by the state veterinarian for testing trichomoniasis samples. Positive test results will be sent to the department by the next business day.

     (5)(a) Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the test method for official tests accepted by the department.

     (b) An official test is one in which the sample is collected by a certified veterinarian and received in the official laboratory in good condition within forty-eight hours of collection. Samples in transit for more than forty-eight hours or have been frozen or exposed to high temperatures will not be accepted for official testing. All samples shipped to the laboratory must be in pouch media, lactated Ringer's solution, or in normal saline solution. All sampling will be obtained by pipette scrapings from the prepuce and glans of a bull.

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