WAC 16-54-083   Domestic and foreign bovine brucellosis requirements.  (1) Female cattle, domestic and foreign, must have an official calfhood brucellosis vaccination and legible vaccination tattoo before entry into Washington state.

     (a) Cattle vaccinated with strain 19 vaccine must be permanently identified with a tattoo in the right ear that must bear the USDA registered V shield preceded by a number indicating the quarter of the year in which they were vaccinated, followed by the last digit of the year of vaccination.

     (b) Cattle vaccinated with RB-51 strain of vaccine must be permanently identified with a tattoo in the right ear that must bear the USDA registered V shield preceded by the letter R followed by the last digit of the year of vaccination.

     (c) Brucellosis vaccinated cattle from foreign countries must present original vaccination certificates. On arrival, the cattle must be tattooed with the USDA V shield and the year indicated on the vaccination certificate.

     (2) Mature vaccinated domestic bovine that are identified by a legible vaccination tattoo and USDA vaccination and USDA identification tags will be allowed entry into Washington state if the state of origin allows mature vaccination and is of the same brucellosis class or higher.

     (3)(a) Test eligible dairy cattle from all states and all cattle from Class A states must be tested negative for bovine brucellosis within thirty days before entry.

     (b) Beef cattle from selected brucellosis free states designated by the director may be required to have a negative test thirty days before entry.

     (c) Test eligible bovine are bulls over six months of age, brucellosis vaccinated dairy females over twenty months of age, and brucellosis vaccinated beef breed females over twenty-four months of age.

     (4) All animals must be identified by USDA approved official identification.

     Exemptions to domestic bovine brucellosis test and vaccination requirements.

     (5) Domestic bovine that are exempt from brucellosis testing and vaccination requirements are:

     (a) Those cattle from a class free state consigned to restricted feedlots;

     (b) Those consigned to federally inspected slaughter plants for immediate slaughter;

     (c) Heifer calves less than four months of age;

     (d) Slaughter only dairy breed cattle from Oregon, Idaho, and Montana that are consigned to a state-federal approved livestock market;

     (e) Bull calves less than six months of age;

     (f) Steers and spayed heifers;

     (g) Official brucellosis vaccinated dairy cattle less than twenty months of age;

     (h) Official brucellosis vaccinated beef cattle less than twenty-four months of age;

     (i) Cattle from a certified brucellosis free herd, as defined by Title 9 CFR Part 78.1; and

     (j) Test eligible beef breed cattle and dairy cattle that are consigned to a state or federally approved livestock market to meet entry testing requirements. Heifer calves between four and twelve months of age may be consigned to a state-federal approved sale yard where they will remain until meeting vaccination requirements.

     (6) Cattle that have not met the department's brucellosis requirements may enter, with approval from the director, a restricted holding facility in Washington state until testing and vaccination requirements have been met. The restricted holding facility must be approved by the director and operated in accordance with a written agreement between the facility owner and the director. The restricted holding facility must be maintained and all inspections, testing, and vaccination done at the owner's expense.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 08-14-057, § 16-54-083, filed 6/25/08, effective 7/26/08. Statutory Authority: Chapters 16.36 and 34.05 RCW. 07-14-056, § 16-54-083, filed 6/28/07, effective 7/29/07.]