After bovine trichomoniasis was found in several western states last year, the Georgia Department of Agriculture adopted certain rules to add bovine trichomoniasis to the list of reportable diseases and to provide for certain testing requirements relating to this disease.

     Rule 40-13-2-.07, entitled “Bovine Trichomoniasis,” requires testing of all virgin and non-virgin bulls 18 months of age and older before entering Georgia. The rule requires bulls to test negative within 30 days prior to entering the state. The rule prevents bulls from having contact with female cattle between the test and importation into Georgia. Bulls comingled with cows after testing are required to be retested. All bulls must be identified with a U.S.D.A. approved ear tag, registry brand, or registry tattoo. The rule further provides that the collection of samples must be conducted by an accredited veterinarian and that animals must be identified on an official test chart.

     The adopted rule allows the State Veterinarian to exempt certain bulls from the Trichomoniasis testing requirements when it is determined that such animals do not pose a risk for introduction of trichomoniasis into Georgia. This includes: exhibition and rodeo bulls that are temporally in the state for an event with no comingling of female cattle and will be leaving immediately after the event; bulls going directly to slaughter or being sold to go directly to slaughter; bulls being transported through Georgia in interstate commerce and not offloaded and comingled with female cattle; and virgin bulls under 18 months of age, as determined by breed registry records or the absence of permanent central incisor teeth in wear, which must be accompanied by a breeder’s certificate signed by the owner, owner’s representative, or accredited veterinarian.

     Note that bulls leaving Georgia for sale in a different state that does not require trichomoniasis testing may re-enter Georgia without being tested provided that; 1) said bulls have not been comingled with cows after leaving Georgia, and 2) the bulls leave and re-enter Georgia under the same unexpired Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health paper).

     The Department also added “Bovine Trichomoniasis” to rule 40-13-4-.02(3), the list of reportable diseases. This requires any person to report the presence of bovine trichomoniasis to the Department if found. In addition, the Department added new rule 40-13-4-.05, which requires animals being tested for trichomoniasis to be separated from all other bovine. The rule further provides that animals testing positive for this disease must be slaughtered and recorded on Form VS 1-27. The slaughtering of animals testing positive is necessary since there is no known therapeutic agent for treating this disease and no cure.