• They are separated by a double fence meeting Department of Natural Resources (DNR) standards or, in the case of farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer, by a functionally equivalent barrier approved by DATCP.
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Bio-security procedures effectively prevent disease transmission between the herds.
• The department inspects each shared herd location, and finds that the herds are “medically separated." There is an inspection fee of $150 (no change from current rules).
Chronic Wasting Disease Tests
Under current rules, a farm-raised deer keeper must have a chronic wasting disease test performed on every farm-raised deer at least 16 months old that dies in captivity, or is killed or sent to slaughter (the test sample must be sent to an approved laboratory within 10 days after it is collected). Under this rule, testing is required for deer at least 8 months old that meet the same criteria. Under this rule, a test sample must be collected within 10 days after the animal dies, or is killed or slaughtered (or within 10 days after the death is first discovered). Under this rule as under the current rules, the test sample must be sent to an approved laboratory within 10 days after it is collected.
Condemnation of Farm-Raised Deer
This rule clarifies current rules related to DATCP condemnation of diseased or suspect farm-raised deer. Under this rule, a condemnation order may do all of the following:
• Specify a reasonable deadline for destruction of the condemned animals.
• Direct appropriate disease testing and disposition of the carcasses.
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Require the herd owner or custodian to enter into a “premises plan" as a condition to the payment of state indemnities. The “premises plan" may require the herd owner or custodian to clean and disinfect the herd premises, limit future cervid movement to and from the premises, or comply with other requirements that are reasonably designed to prevent the spread of disease. A “premises plan" may include a restrictive covenant, such as a fence maintenance requirement, that is binding on subsequent property owners for the duration of the agreement.
Under current rules, the owner of condemned farm-raised deer may apply for state indemnity payments. Under this rule, an application for indemnity payments must include proof of compliance with DATCP's condemnation order.
Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Status Program; Annual Census
Under current rules, no person may move farm-raised deer from a herd in this state unless the herd is enrolled in Wisconsin's chronic wasting disease herd status program. Enrollees must, among other things, submit an annual herd census to DATCP. Among other things, an annual herd census must report the number, species and sex of animals that have left the herd since the last annual census, and how those animals left the herd. Under this rule, an annual herd census must also include:
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A report of apparent escapes, including approximate escape dates and circumstances, and steps taken to prevent recurring escapes.
• An explanation and accounting for overall changes in herd population since the last annual census.
• Census verification by a Wisconsin certified veterinarian if required by the department.
White-tailed Deer Herd; Fence Certificate
Under current law, fences for farm-raised white-tailed deer herds must be approved by DNR, and must comply with DNR rules. Under this rule, a person applying for a DATCP registration certificate to keep white-tailed deer must include, with the application, a copy of a valid DNR fence certificate for each registered location.
Hunting Preserves
Under current law, a person operating a farm-raised deer hunting preserve must hold a hunting preserve registration certificate from DATCP (a certificate is valid for 10 years). Current rules spell out hunting preserve registration standards and application requirements. Under this rule, an application must also include all of the following:
• An estimate of the farm-raised deer population on the hunting preserve premises, by species, age and sex.
• The identification numbers of any farm-raised deer on the hunting preserve that bear identification numbers.
Under this rule, all non-natural additions to a hunting preserve must have 2 forms of official individual identification, one visible and one implanted.
Disease-Free Certification of Farm-Raised Deer
Under current rules, DATCP may certify a herd of farm-raised deer as brucellosis-free or tuberculosis-free, or both, based on herd test results provided by the herd owner. Participation is voluntary, but disease-free herd certification facilitates the sale and movement of farm-raised deer. Herd certification is generally governed by federal rules (uniform methods and rules) that DATCP has incorporated by reference in its rules.
Under current federal rules, tuberculosis-free herd certification is good for 3 years, while brucellosis-free herd certification is good for only 2 years. USDA proposes to harmonize the certification terms, but has not yet adopted the necessary rule changes. USDA has authorized DATCP to harmonize the terms by state rule.
This rule extends brucellosis-free herd certification from 2 years to 3 years (a herd owner may request a shorter term), consistent with tuberculosis-free herd certification. That will allow herd owners to conduct simultaneous tests for both diseases. Simultaneous testing will reduce testing costs and limit stress on tested deer.
This rule also clarifies that DATCP may transfer a herd certification to new herd owner, or grant equivalent certification status to a new herd created from an existing certified herd, if the herd meets certification standards and the owner applies for certification within 90 days.
Tuberculosis in Farm-Raised Deer
Under current rules, a farm-raised deer must be slaughtered within 15 days if it is found to be a tuberculosis reactor, except that DATCP may extend the slaughter deadline by up to 15 days. Under this rule, DATCP may extend the slaughter deadline by up to 30 days.
Importing Farm-Raised Deer
Farm-raised deer imported to this state must meet standards specified in current rules. Among other things, the imported animal must meet one of several alternative requirements related to tuberculosis status. This rule modifies current import standards, based on current federal standards for interstate movement. This rule eliminates current requirements for post-import testing.
Moving Farm-Raised Deer Within Wisconsin
Farm-raised deer moved between separately registered herds in this state must meet standards specified in current rules. Among other things, the farm-raised deer must meet one of several alternative requirements related to tuberculosis status. Under one alternative, a farm-raised deer may qualify for movement if it tests negative on 2 tuberculosis tests, where the second test is performed within 360 days prior to movement. Under this rule, the second test must be conducted within 90 days prior to movement.
Under this rule, a farm-raised deer may not be moved between separately registered herds in this state unless it has been enrolled in Wisconsin's chronic wasting disease status program for at least 5 years. If the source herd is located in a DNR wild deer chronic wasting disease eradication zone, it must have been enclosed by a DATCP-approved double fence for at least 5 years.
Cattle
Johne's Disease Testing and Herd Classification
DATCP currently administers a voluntary herd testing and classification program related to Johne's disease in cattle. Herd testing and classification is conducted according to federal standards adopted by the United States department of agriculture (USDA). This rule incorporates the latest version (2006) of the USDA standards.
Under current rules, Johne's disease test samples must be collected by an accredited veterinarian, by an individual working under direct supervision of an accredited veterinarian who submits the sample for testing, or by an authorized DATCP or USDA employee or agent. Under this rule, a milk sample for Johne's disease testing may also be collected by a Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) authorized technician.
Imported Cattle and Bison; TB Test Exemption
Current rules exempt imported bovine animals (cattle and bison) from the requirement of a pre-import tuberculosis test if the animals originate from a state that USDA has classified as “TB-free" if that state accepts Wisconsin animals without a TB test. Under this rule, the exemption does not apply if the state of origin has a confirmed TB-positive herd, until that herd is depopulated and all epidemiologically linked herds have tested negative for TB.
Cattle and Bison from Mexico
Under this rule, no person may import an “M-branded" bovine animal (cattle or bison) to this state, except directly to slaughter. “M-branded" animals are animals branded with the letter “M" to signify that they have been imported from Mexico.
Poultry
National Poultry Improvement Plan Enrollment
Under current rules, a poultry flock owner may enroll the flock in the national poultry improvement program (DATCP administers the program in this state). Enrollment facilitates the sale and movement of poultry. Under this rule, a flock may not be enrolled in the program unless the flock premises have been registered under Wisconsin's livestock premises registration program (the premises ID number must be included on the enrollment application).
Poultry Imports
Under current rules, poultry may not be imported to Wisconsin unless they are accompanied by a valid certificate of veterinary inspection that certifies all of the following:
• They originate from flocks enrolled in the national poultry improvement plan.
• They originate from flocks classified as “U.S. pullorum-typhoid clean" and, in the case of turkeys and turkey eggs, “Mycoplasma gallisepticum clean" under the national poultry improvement plan.
This rule changes current poultry import requirements. Under this rule, poultry may not be imported to Wisconsin unless they are accompanied by a valid certificate of veterinary inspection that certifies at least one of the following:
• They originate from flocks enrolled in the national poultry improvement plan.
• They originate from flocks classified as “U.S. pullorum-typhoid clean" and, in the case of turkeys and turkey eggs, “Mycoplasma gallisepticum clean" under the national poultry improvement plan or under an equivalent plan approved by DATCP.
• All test eligible birds have tested negative for pullorum, fowl typhoid and, in the case of turkeys, Mycoplasma gallisepticum within 90 days prior to import. Tested birds must bear official individual identification, and there may be no change of ownership between the test sampling date and the import date.
Llamas and Alpacas
Under this rule, a llama or alpaca imported to Wisconsin must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection that includes the official individual identification of the llama or alpaca.
Animal Markets
General
This rule does all of the following:
• Eliminates the current requirement for animal market operators to pass a test before being initially licensed by DATCP.
• Requires animal market operators to transport and handle animals in a safe and humane manner.
• Clarifies animal transport vehicle registration requirements.
• Requires animal market operators to record the official individual identification of goats that bear official individual identification.
• Requires animal market operators to record the livestock premises code, if any, of each premises from which the operator receives or to which the operator ships livestock.
Federally Approved Livestock Import Markets
Under current rules, certain livestock imported to a federally-approved livestock import market in this state are exempt from Wisconsin import requirements, provided that they meet those requirements before leaving the market. Under this rule, before the animals leave the market, the market operator must also disclose the animals' state of origin to the animal purchaser.
Animal Dealers
This rule does all of the following:
• Eliminates the current requirement for animal dealers to pass a test before being initially licensed by DATCP.
• Requires animal dealers to transport and handle animals in a safe and humane manner.
• Clarifies animal transport vehicle registration requirements.
• Requires animal dealers to record the official individual identification of goats.
• Requires animal dealers to record the livestock premises code, if any, of each premises from which the dealer receives or to which the dealer ships livestock.
Animal Truckers
This rule does all of the following:
• Eliminates the current requirement for animal truckers to pass a test before being initially licensed by DATCP.
• Eliminates the current license exemption for animal truckers that haul animals for other persons fewer than 6 times per license year.
• Requires animal truckers to transport and handle animals in a safe and humane manner.
• Clarifies animal transport vehicle registration requirements.
• Requires animal truckers to record the livestock premises code, if any, of each premises from which the trucker receives or to which the trucker ships livestock.
Slaughter Establishments
Under current rules, no person may remove livestock from a slaughter establishment after the animal has been weighed and purchased by the slaughter establishment. Under this rule, no person may remove livestock after they have been off-loaded at the slaughter establishment.
Disease Indemnities
Under current law, DATCP may condemn and order the destruction of animals to prevent the spread of serious diseases. In some cases, the owner of the diseased animals may be eligible for state indemnity payments. Under this rule, if the owner of a diseased animal is eligible for state indemnities, and if the animal is of a type not frequently sold at public auction, DATCP must appoint a knowledgeable independent appraiser to determine the value of the animal. The appraiser must determine appraised value based on the animal's size, species, sex, and grade or quality, and by relevant information related to prevailing market prices for animals of that size, species, sex, and grade or quality.
Prohibited Practices
This rule prohibits any person from selling, moving or disposing of an animal before the result of a disease test of that animal is known, if that disease test is required by law prior to the sale, movement or disposition.
Livestock Premises Registration
Registration Renewal Period
Under current law, a person keeping livestock in this state must register each location where those livestock are kept. “Livestock" includes bovine animals, equine animals, goats, poultry, sheep, swine other than wild hogs, farm-raised deer, captive game birds, camelids, ratites and fish. Under current DATCP rules, a person must renew a livestock premises registration every year. This rule extends the current renewal period. Under this rule, a person will only be required to renew once every 3 years.
