The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) held a regularly scheduled meeting on September 10, 2013. The Commission adopted five rules. One of the rules adopted was Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Herd Certification.
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease, Herd Certification: The amendments remove the requirement for a specific fence height, change herd inventory requirements to allow verification through means other than a hands-on process, and change the requirement for submission of samples in positive or suspected positive herds to mortalities of any age. For regular enrolled herds the required sampling age remains at 12 months.
With the change in test age requirement for certain herds, the Texas CWD Herd Certification Program fully meets federal requirements for interstate movement of CWD susceptible species. The TAHC is working with key federal personnel to upgrade Texas from Provisional Approved Status to Approved Status, with no interruptions in interstate commerce expected.
A detailed explanation of the rule is available on the TAHC web site. The aforementioned TAHC rule will go into effect on Monday, October 7, 2013.
For more information regarding this rule or general information about CWD, contact your local region office or call 1-800-550-8242.
Founded in 1893, the Texas Animal Health Commission works to protect the health of all Texas livestock, including: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals, and exotic livestock.