TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION 1-800-550-8242, Ext. 777 or 512-719-0777 Summary of Texas Requirements For Entry of Livestock (Domestic and Exotic), Poultry and Ratites into the State and into Shows, Fairs and Exhibitions Note: The following summary is a condensed version of the Texas Animal Health Commission regulations. The regulations will supersede this summary if there is a dispute between the two. Cattle Requirements (including Bison) 1. Intrastate (Cattle moved within the state of Texas) A. All cattle or bison originating in Texas and participating in: poultry of the same species) are exempt from an entry permit, but must meet the same other requirements as for those species entering from out-of-state and be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. a. Texas origin dairy cattle are not required to be tested for tuberculosis to participate in a show, fair or exhibition within the state but must be officially individually identified. b. All bulls regardless of age are required to be officially individually identified. 2. Interstate (Cattle moved into the state from other states) A. Entry Requirements for Cattle 1. Certificate on Veterinary Inspection within 30 days prior to entry. 2. Official individual identification is required: a. On all beef cattle over 18 months of age b. On all dairy cattle c. On all bulls d. Types of official identification Official Alpha-numeric USDA metal eartags (bangs tags) Official Alpha-numeric USDA metal vaccination tags Official 840 or 900 RFID tags Official 840 or 900 flap or bangle tags Official individual animal breed registry tattoos or brands Official State of Origin Trichomoniasis tags (bulls only) National Dairy Fair Tag or Dairy Herd Improvement Association Tag 3. A permit is not required unless bulls are entering for exhibition and return to the state of origin per the Trichomoniasis requirements section #7 below. 4. A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days prior to entry or be from a class free state, area or certified free herd. 5. Brucellosis vaccination is required for female cattle between 4 to 12 months of age or be from a class free state, area or certified free herd. 6. Tuberculosis testing requirements a. All sexually intact dairy cattle that are two months of age or older must be tested for tuberculosis per the rules c through e in this section, below. b. All sexually intact dairy cattle that are less than two months of age require an entry permit to a designated facility and held until tested negative at two months of age. Calves from a Modified Accredited Free State must also originate from an accredited free herd or be from a herd that has been tested within 1 year prior to entry. c. Cattle from Accredited Free States or Zones require the following: Beef cattle (including bison), no test is required All dairy cattle require a test within 60 days prior to entry except on sexually neutered cattle or cattle from an accredited free herd.
d. Cattle from Modified Accredited Advanced Free States or Zones require: A tuberculosis test within 60 days prior to entry or; Be from an accredited herd that has been tested within 1 year of date of movement or; The cattle or bison are moved directly to an approved slaughtering establishment or; The cattle or bison are sexually intact heifers moved to an approved feedlot (dairy cattle are required to be accompanied by a permit), or are steers or spayed heifers; are either officially identified or identified by premises of origin identification. e. Cattle from Modified Accredited States or Zones require: A whole herd test conducted within 1 year prior from to date of movement and that the individual animals be identified and be individually tested within 60 days prior to entry or; Be from an accredited free herd that has been tested within 1 year date of movement or; The cattle or bison are moved directly to an approved slaughtering establishment or; The cattle or bison are sexually intact heifers moved to an approved feedlot (dairy cattle are required to be accompanied by a permit), or are steers or spayed heifers; are either officially identified or identified by premises of origin identification; and are tested negative within 60 days prior to entry. f. All "M" branded steers, which are recognized as potential rodeo and/or roping stock and used for either feeding or recreation purposes require: A permit prior to entry and; Be tested negative for tuberculosis within twelve months prior to entry. 7. Trichomoniasis Requirements: a. A negative Trichomoniasis test is required within 60 days prior to entry on all breeding bulls more than twelve (12) months of age with an official Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Trichomoniasis samples pooled at the laboratory may qualify as the official test if no more than five total samples are pooled. b. The official identification number and age of bull shall be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection. c. Any bull, that has had contact with a female subsequent to the initial test, must be retested within 30 days prior to entry. d. Bulls entering Texas for exhibition which are twelve (12) months of age or older and capable of breeding require: Permit prior to entry if not meeting our Trich testing entry requirements and; Shall not commingle with female cattle and; May not be used for breeding. If stay is more than sixty (60) days, the bulls must be tested negative for trichomoniasis Equine Requirements A. Requirements for Equine Originating in Texas and participating in: 1. Racetrack Facility a. Definition of Racetrack Facility: a facility used to conduct organized horse racing. b. Must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 45 days prior to entry and a negative EIA test conducted within 12 months. Foals under 8 months of age, nursing a negative dam are exempt from testing. c. A negative Piroplasmosis test (Theileria equi) is required within the previous 12 months prior to entering a racetrack facility. 2. Show, fair, exhibition, and assembly a. A negative EIA test is required within the previous 12 months prior to entering. b. Foals under 8 months of age, nursing a negative dam are exempt from testing. B. Interstate (Equine moved into the state from other states) Entry Requirements for Equine 1. Certificate of veterinary inspection within 45 days prior to entry. 2. Proof of a negative EIA test within the previous 12 months prior to entry. Exception to these requirements: a. Foals, under eight months of age, accompanying and nursing a dam with a negative test within the last twelve months. 3. A negative Piroplasmosis test (Theileria equi) is required within the previous 12 months prior to entering a racetrack facility.
Swine Requirements 1. Intrastate (Swine moved within the state of Texas) A. All swine originating in Texas and participating in: poultry of the same species) must meet the same requirements as for those swine entering from outof-state. Swine entered in terminal shows are exempt from brucellosis, leptospirosis and pseudorabies 2. Interstate (Swine moved into the state from other states) A. Entry Requirements for Domestic Swine Required statements on CVI: Have not been fed garbage Have not been exposed to pseudorabies Have not been vaccinated for pseudorabies 2. Permanent Identification is required on all swine except swine designated to slaughter. 3. An entry permit is not required for domestic swine. 4. Leptospirosis vaccination is required on breeding swine, 6 months of age and older, within 30 days prior to entry with vaccine containing the following strains: Canicola, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Pomona. Sheep Requirements 1. Intrastate (Sheep moved within the state of Texas) All sheep originating in Texas and participating in : All exhibition sheep must have a scrapie identification eartag. 2. interstate shows, fairs, and exhibitions (those functions that permit livestock and poultry from other poultry of the same species) must meet the same requirements as for those species entering from out-of-state and be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. Breeding rams originating in Texas are exempt from the brucella ovis test. 2. Interstate (Sheep moved into the state from other states) Entry Requirements for Domestic Sheep 2. Scrapie Eradication Program eartag required prior to entry on all sheep. 3. An entry permit is not required for domestic sheep, except if from an Inconsistent State. 4. Breeding rams, 6 months of age and over, require a negative ELISA test for brucella ovis within 30 days prior to entry or be from a brucella ovis free flock. 5. All blackface ovine females and all blackface crossbred females, except hair sheep, imported for breeding purposes shall originate from a Scrapie Certified Free Flock or have documentation supporting that the animals are of the genotype RR at codon 171 or AA at codon 136 and QR at codon 171. Goats Requirements 1. Intrastate (Goats moved within the state of Texas) All goats originating in Texas and participating in: ratites from out of state) are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection.
All exhibition goats must have a scrapie identification eartag except registered goats with a registration tattoo and accompanied by registration papers listing the scrapie premise ID number. poultry of the same species) must meet the same other requirements as for those species entering from out-of-state. 2. Interstate (Goats moved into the state from other states) Entry Requirements for Domestic Goats 2. Scrapie Eradication Program eartag required prior to entry on all goats. Registered goats with a registration tattoo, accompanied by registration papers and a Scrapie Eradication Program premise identification number do not require individual identification. Poultry Requirements 1. Intrastate (Poultry moved within the state of Texas) All poultry originating in Texas and participating in: ratites from out of state) are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection but the poultry must originate from flocks or hatcheries free of pullorum disease and fowl typhoid or have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 30 days before exhibition. poultry of the same species) are exempt from an entry permit, but must meet the same other requirements as for those species entering from out-of-state and be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. 2. Interstate (Poultry moved into the state from other states) Entry Requirements for Poultry a. The certificate should state that the poultry have been vaccinated only with USDA and TAHC approved vaccines. (Contact TAHC for a list of approved vaccines.) NOTE: No modified live virus chick embryo origin Laryngotracheitis (LT) vaccine and no modified live virus mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) attenuated vaccine may be used on poultry entering the State. b. The certificate should state that the poultry have not originated from an area that has had active Laryngotracheitis within the last 30 days. 2. An entry permit is required within 15 days prior to entry. 3. Live domestic poultry, except those entering for slaughter and processing at a slaughter facility owned or operated by the owner of the poultry entering, may enter Texas only under the following circumstances: a. Originate from a flock that is certified as Avian Influenza clean in accordance with the National Poultry Improvement Plan; or b. Originate from an Avian Influenza negative flock that participates in an approved state-sponsored Avian Influenza monitoring program; or c. Originate from a flock in which a minimum of 30 birds, 4 weeks of age or older, or the complete flock, if fewer than 30, are serologically negative to an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) test for Avian Influenza within 30 days of entry or a minimum of 10 birds (e.g. two pools of 5 birds per house) are tested negative on trachea swabs to a real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) test within 30 days of entry or negative to other tests approved by the Commission. d. Live domestic poultry from states affected with Avian Influenza may enter Texas for slaughter and processing only under the following circumstances: A minimum of 30 birds per flock are serologically negative to an ELISA or AGID test for Avian Influenza within 72 hours of entry, or a minimum of 10 birds (e.g., two pools of 5 birds per house) are tested negative on tracheal swabs to a RRT-PCR test within 72 hours of entry or negative to other tests approved by the TAHC, and specific written permission has been granted. e. A negative pullorum-typhoid test is required within 30 days prior to entry or poultry must originate from flocks that meet either the Texas Pullorum-Typhoid Program and/or the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
Exotic Livestock and Ratites Requirements 1. Intrastate (Exotic Livestock and Ratites moved within the state of Texas) A. All exotic livestock originating in Texas and participating in: poultry of the same species) must meet the same other requirements as for those species entering from out-of-state and be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. Ratites must be individually identified and tested negative for Avian Influenza and Salmonella pullorum-typhoid within 30 days. 2. Interstate (Exotic Livestock and Ratites moved into the state from other states) A. Exotic Livestock Entry Requirements 1. Exotic Livestock are grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse, tapir, camel, llama, rhinoceros, elephant, deer, and antelope families. 2. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required within 30 days prior to entry. 3. Entry permit required within 15 days prior to entry accept for when animals are entering for exhibition and returning to their state of origin 4. Exotic Livestock Categories a. Camelidae are defined as members of the family of animals which include camels, lamas, vicunas & domestic members who include llama, alpaca, and guanaco. Brucellosis or Tuberculosis testing is not required b. Ratites are defined as exotic fowl with a flat breastbone and small or nonexistent wings, such as ostriches, emu, rheas, and kiwi. Individual identification (RFID device, a permanently attached tag or an implanted electronic device (microchip). A negative Avian Influenza test required within 30 days prior to entry. A negative Salmonella pullorum-typhoid test required within 30 days prior to entry. Birds or hatching eggs must originate from flocks that show no evidence of infectious disease and have no history of Avian Influenza in the past six months. c. Exotic bovidae means non-indigenous members of the family of animals which includes water buffalo, gnu (wildebeest), addax, antelope and nilgai (among others). A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days prior to entry. A negative tuberculosis test is required within 60 days prior to entry. d. Exotic cervidae is non-indigenous members of the family of animals which includes deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer and the sub-family musk deer. A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days prior to entry or be from a certified free herd. Two tuberculosis tests which were conducted no less than 90 days apart; the second test was conducted within 90 days prior to date on movement; and that the animals were isolated from all other members of the herd during the testing period; or, - Originate from an accredited free herd; or; - Originate from a qualified herd and have a classified negative 90-day tuberculosis test. If the qualifying herd test was administered within 90 days of movement, the animal(s) do not require an additional test; or; - Originate from a monitored herd and have a classified negative 90-day tuberculosis test; or; - Be less than 12 months of age, originate and were born in accredited, qualified, or monitored herds and have not been exposed to cervids from a lower status. e. Exotic swine includes Russian Wild Boars, African Wild Pigs and Warthogs (among others) A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days prior to entry or be from a validated free herd. A negative pseudorabies test is required within 30 days prior to entry or be from a qualified free herd. Current as of 2/20/13 bh