The current rule specifies slaughter identification requirements under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 10 that differ slightly from the requirements under Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 12. The proposed rule will make the provisions the same, including deleting the requirement of where a back tag must be placed. Swine Slaughter Identification
The current rule requires a slaughtering establishment operator to apply (if the swine does not already have it) an official back tag, premises identification number ear tag, or other approved slaughter identification if the animal does not already have official identification. The following information must be recorded: The animal’s identification, date of receipt, name and address of the person from whom the animal was received, and the swine’s class.
The proposed rule will require a slaughtering establishment to apply identification to swine only if the animal does not pass the inspection process completed by state or federal inspectors or if the animal is tested for disease at the facility. Information must be recorded only if the animal is required to have identification applied.
The current rule requires that slaughtering establishments record the date identification was applied to the swine, if applicable, or a note that the swine already had identification upon arrival. The proposed rule no longer requires this information to be recorded.
Bovine Animal and Goat Imports
The current rule specifies bovine and goat import requirements. Except bovine animals and goats going directly to slaughter, no person may import a bovine animal or goat originating from a tuberculosis modified accredited state or a modified accredited zone in a state which has split multiple tuberculosis statuses (as determined by USDA) unless that person meets certain requirements.
One of those requirements is to obtain an import permit which will require the owner of a bovine animal or goat imported from a tuberculosis modified accredited state to have the animals tested for tuberculosis. The proposed rule clarifies that this provision pertains to owners of bovine animals and goats imported from a modified accredited zone as well.
Swine Disease Testing
Diseases to be tested. The current rule requires that swine be tested for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and the Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease (SECD) within 90 days prior to movement into or within Wisconsin.
The proposed rule requires swine to be tested for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) rather than SECD. Testing for SECD includes testing for the Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE), and PEDv. At the time the rule requirements were originally developed, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) required reporting of PEDv and PDCoV. However, recently, the USDA discontinued the required reporting of these diseases. Although no longer required to be reported, PEDv remains a devastating disease in swine, causing diarrhea and vomiting, and death of 50-100 percent of infected piglets. Thus, the proposed rule will require that swine continue to be tested for PEDv. While harmful, PDCoV and TGE are not nearly as damaging, so testing for these diseases will no longer be required.
Number of swine tested. The current rule specifies requirements when testing swine for PRRS and SECD. Again, except for PEDv, swine will no longer be tested for the diseases that fall under SECD. Currently:
- Herds with less than 150 swine must have one pooled sample of swine collected and tested. The number of swine to be pooled for samples is determined by the owner in consultation with the herd veterinarian.
- Herds with 150 or more swine must have three pooled samples of at least five swine collected and tested.
The proposed rule maintains the testing requirements for herds with less than 150 swine, but changes the requirements for testing herds with 150 or more swine as follows:
- Herds with 150 to 299 swine must have two pooled samples of swine collected and tested.
- Herds with 300 or more swine must have three pooled samples of swine collected and tested.
- The number of swine to be pooled for samples in either scenario must be determined by the owner in consultation with the herd veterinarian.
Imports. The current rule requires that swine imported to Wisconsin, with some exceptions, test negative for PRRS and the SECD within 90 days prior to import. Swine that test positive or that are not tested may be imported to Wisconsin with an import permit. Upon arrival to Wisconsin, the swine imported and/or swine at the premises will be quarantined until a herd plan is developed by a Wisconsin certified, accredited, licensed veterinarian and approved by the department.
The proposed rule:
- Allows the herd plan to be developed by an accredited veterinarian in another state, but the plan must still be approved by the department.
- Exempts swine imported to a licensed animal market from having to test for PRRS and PEDv (formerly SECD) prior to import if all swine on the market premises the day of sale are shipped directly to slaughter. However, under this scenario, the swine must still be accompanied by a CVI unless going to a federally approved livestock market.
- Clarifies that swine imported directly to a federally approved livestock marketing facility do not have to get an import permit if there is a negative PRRS and PEDv (formerly SECD) test from the swine’s herd of origin conducted within 90 days prior to movement.
Movement within Wisconsin. For intrastate movement, the current rule requires that documentation of negative PRRS and SECD test reports be made available to the department upon request. The proposed rule requires test reports of PRRS and PEDv to be made available at the time of sale as well as to the department upon request.
The current rule provides PRRS and SECD testing exemptions for swine moving intrastate. The proposed rule adds an exemption for commercial swine moving directly to an animal market if all the swine on the market premises the day of the sale are shipped directly to slaughter.
The current rule requires the exhibitor of commercial exhibition swine that originate from Wisconsin and return to Wisconsin after an exhibition in another state to notify the department before returning to Wisconsin. The proposed rule exempts exhibitors from providing this notification if the out-of-state exhibition organizer requires all participating swine to have originated from herds that have tested negative for PRRS and PEDv (formerly SECD) within 90 days prior to the event.
Also see swine information under “Fairs and Exhibitions.”
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
The current rule requires, with some exceptions, EIA testing when purchasing, selling, or transferring ownership of any equine animal. EIA testing is not required when:
- An equine animal is consigned to an animal dealer or market, or sold to an animal market operator for sale directly to slaughter, or
- The dealer/market has the animal tested for EIA within 10 days after the animal is received/purchased.
The provisions relating to markets are unclear, and the usage of the term consigned for animal dealers (and markets) versus sold for market operators is confusing. Also, markets are required to remove animals from the premises within 4 days of receipt (unless awaiting test results). Thus, it is not permissible for markets to wait 10 days to test an animal.
The proposed rule will clarify that EIA testing is not required when an equine animal is consigned or sold as follows:
- To an animal dealer, provided the animal dealer ships the animal directly to slaughter or has the animal tested for EIA within 10 days after its consignment or sale to the dealer, or arrival at the premises. Until the negative EIA test results are obtained, the dealer may not consign, sell, or move the animal from the premises or allow the animal to commingle with other animals.
- To an animal market, provided that the animal market operator ships the animal directly to slaughter or has the animal tested for EIA within 4 days after it arrives at the premises. Until the negative EIA test results are obtained, an equine animal may not leave the premises or be commingled with any other animal.
Equine Animal Imports
The current rule specifies equine import requirements. With some exceptions, no person may import an equine animal unless the animal has tested negative on an equine infectious anemia test (EIA) conducted within a certain timeframe.
One of those exceptions is to obtain an import permit which will allow the animal to be imported if samples are collected from the animal prior to import, and the animal is confined to the premises and not commingled upon import until negative test results are received. The proposed rule deletes this exception.
Poultry and Farm-Raised Game Birds
Enrollment requirements. The current rule requires poultry and eggs used for breeding, hatching, or exhibition to originate from a certified flock or be individually tested for certain diseases. A certified flock includes a flock enrolled in the national poultry improvement plan (NPIP), a Wisconsin tested flock, or a Wisconsin associate flock.
The proposed rule will no longer require persons to enroll their flock in a Wisconsin tested flock or Wisconsin associate flock with the department. Instead, a flock owner must provide documentation of being a Wisconsin tested flock or Wisconsin associate flock by completing a department approved form that requires certain information to be listed. This new form will include the same information as the application currently used to apply for flock certification from the department. The Wisconsin tested flock form will be valid for one year from the date the disease testing was conducted. The Wisconsin associate flock form will be valid as long as all birds or eggs introduced to the flock are acquired directly from a Wisconsin tested flock, a Wisconsin associate flock, or a flock enrolled in the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
The proposed rule requires that poultry and eggs exhibited at fairs or poultry shows (rather than those used for breeding, hatching and exhibitions) to either: reside in a flock that is certified under NPIP; have a completed, valid Wisconsin tested flock form or Wisconsin associate flock form; or be an individual sexually mature bird tested for certain diseases.
The current rule requires a person who sells poultry or eggs from certified flocks (or individually tested birds) to provide a copy of the flock certification (or individual bird test) to the buyer and to report the sale to the department.
The proposed rule requires these persons to provide a copy of a current NPIP flock certification, a Wisconsin tested flock form, a Wisconsin associate flock form, or individual bird tests to the buyer and to maintain poultry sale information (rather than report the information to the department). Sale information must be maintained for at least 3 years and be made available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.
The current rule provides an alternative method for youth exhibiting poultry at county fairs. The proposed rule deletes this provision as it is rarely, if ever, used.
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). The current rule specifies that the department may certify a flock as U.S. pullorum typhoid clean or Mycoplasma gallisepticum clean, or both, according to standards set forth in the national poultry improvement plan.
The proposed rule deletes this provision as it is already described under the NPIP standards and does not need to be repeated in the rule.
The current rule establishes fees to be paid for enrollment in the program and is ambiguous as to when the $40 fee or the $80 fee applies. The proposed rule clarifies that the $40 fee applies to a flock consisting of not more than 200 breeders, and the $80 fee applies to a flock consisting of more than 200 but not more than 1,000 breeders.
The proposed rule specifies that the department may, rather than shall, inspect enrolled flocks and take other actions as appropriate, based on plan requirements.
