Current Ag Issues
New Trich Rule
The State Veterinarian’s Office has been in in the process of streamlining our rules and on June 8, 2020, the rule changes became effective. It has resulted in a revised Title 3. Agriculture Chapter 2. Department of Agriculture Animal Services Division of which contains the trichomoniasis rule.
The new rule covers the change of ownership testing of bulls. “Change of Ownership” means when a bull is sold, leased, gifted, or exchanged and changes premises for breeding purposes in Arizona.
The following is a summary of how the trich rule will affect producers and veterinarians including changes to the importation of bulls into Arizona.
List of Services
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1. Official trich test:List Item 1
The official test for import into Arizona or for the change of ownership within the state is the PCR test. Here is how it is worded: “The official laboratory test shall be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or other technologies as approved by the State Veterinarian.” The previous importation rule allowed a trich culture for the import of out-of-state bulls. Culture and pooled samples can be used for annual diagnostic tests when used as part of a preventative herd health plan but is not considered an official test for regulatory purposes such as change of ownership or importation. Official testing shall be done by an Accredited Veterinarian.
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2. Length of validity of trich test for change of ownership or importation into Arizona:List Item 2
The official trichomoniasis test is now applicable for 30 days prior to importation and 60 days for in state change of ownership if the bull is isolated from all female cattle after testing.
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3. The test eligible age for bulls:List Item 3
The new rule requires that bulls over 12 months of age be tested for trichomoniasis whether they are bulls imported from out of state or bulls changing ownership.
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4. Identification and Laboratory Submission Forms:List Item 4
There are some additional requirements for official animal ID for bulls being tested for trichomoniasis. The new rule states that an accredited veterinarian shall record the bull’s official animal ID eartag on the T. fetus test submission form or apply an fficial animal ID tag to any bull that does not have one and record it on the T. fetus test submission form. An approved laboratory and the veterinarian are required to immediately report any positive test results to the State Veterinarian’s Office. Such report should include the official animal ID eartag, brand, owner name, address, telephone.
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5. Positive bulls:
If a bull tests positive, the Veterinarian will then return to the ranch verify the ID of the bull and brand the bull with an "S" brand adjacent to the tailhead on the right hip. If the Veterinarian cannot return to the ranch in a time that is reasonable for sale of the bull, the producer shall take the positive T. foetus bull directly to the regional livestock sale yard. The producer shall immediately notify the sale yard of the positive T. foetus bull. Failure to notify the sale yard of the positive T. foetus bull will result in a violation of this rule and the producer shall be subject to the penalties of A.R.S. § 3- 1205(D).
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6. Change of ownership
All bulls that are sold, leased, gifted, or exchanged and changes premises for breeding must have a negative trich test or be branded with an S brand on left hip by tail head and go direct to slaughter. This means is if you take your bull to an auction, it must have a negative trich test done by an accredited veterinaian to sell as a breeding bull. If you do not have a trich test, you can make rrangements to have a test done at the sale yard and be sold after a negative test as long as the bull has not been with cows for 7 days prior to coming to the sale. If no test is done on the bull, then under the oversite of the ivestock inspector an S brand will be placed on the bull prior to sale and it will be sold for slaughter only.
Peter Mundschenk DVM
Arizona State Veterinarian
