Cattle Requirements
1. Intrastate (Cattle moved within the state of Texas)
A. All cattle or bison originating in Texas and participating in:
1. Intrastate shows, fairs, and exhibitions (those functions that require Texas livestock, poultry and ratites of the same species to be housed and exhibited separate and apart from livestock, poultry and ratites from out of state) are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection and testing requirements.
2. Interstate shows, fairs, and exhibitions (those functions that permit livestock and poultry from other states to enter for show or exhibition and held in common facilities with Texas origin livestock and 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.
2. Interstate (Cattle moved into the state from other states)
A. Any livestock, poultry or ratites that are infected, exposed or quarantined in any manner for an infectious, contagious or communicable disease may not enter the state. Contact TAHC at 1-800-550-8242.
B. An owner-shipper statement may be used in lieu of a certificate of veterinary inspection in some instances (see below).
C. Entry permits are required as noted in the following section and may be obtained by calling 512/719-0777 (24 hours) or 1-800-550-8242, ext. 777 or by writing the Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, P. O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966.
D. Entry Requirements for Cattle
1. Certificate on Veterinary Inspection within 30 days prior to entry, except for the following:
a. Female cattle, 18 months of age and over, delivered directly from the farm of origin to slaughter
b. Beef breed female cattle, 18 months of age and over, entering from other than a farm of origin may be moved to slaughter, or to an approved feedyard when accompanied by a Form VS 1-27 on which each animal is individually identified. Brucellosis test data, when required, shall be written on the VS 1-27 Form which must include the test date and results.
c. Beef breed female cattle, 18 months of age and over, delivered directly to a USDA specifically approved livestock market by the owner or consigned there with an owner-shipper statement.
d. Beef breed steers, spayed heifers, beef breed female cattle, under 18 months of age, delivered to slaughter and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement or to a livestock market by the owner or consigned there with an owner-shipper statement; or
e. Beef breed steers, spayed heifers and beef breed female cattle, under 18 months of age, delivered to a feedlot for feeding for slaughter by the owner or consigned there with an owner- shipper statement.
2. Official individual identification is required:
a. On all beef cattle over 18 months of age
c. On all breeding bulls more than 12 months of age
d. On all cattle and bison used for shows, exhibitions, rodeo or recreational events 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 #6 below.
4. Brucellosis testing / vaccination requirements
a. A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days prior to entry or be from a class free state, area or certified free herd.
b. 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.
c. Brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) (applies to all states) • Cattle entering Texas directly from the DSA:
(A) Breeding bulls and sexually intact females shall be tested for brucellosis 60 to 120 days post entry
(B) Sexually intact females that have not calved must be held until tested negative 30 to 90 days after calving. (C) Nonvaccinated sexually intact females between 4 and 12 months of age shall be officially brucellosis vaccinated prior to
(D) All cattle must also meet all applicable entry requirements.
(E) All breeding bulls and sexually intact females require an entry permit. • Cattle entering Texas from Idaho, Montana or Wyoming that do not currently reside in the DSA:
(A) All breeding bulls and post parturient females shall enter Texas with one of the following statements on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection:
(i) The cattle represented on this certificate never resided in the DSA; or
(ii) The cattle represented on this certificate tested negative for brucellosis at least 60 days after leaving the DSA.
(B) Sexually intact females that have not calved must enter with an entry permit and be held until tested negative 30 to 90 days after calving or with a statement on the certificate that the cattle never resided in the DSA.
(C) All cattle must also meet all applicable entry requirements. • Cattle entering Texas from states other than Idaho, Montana and Wyoming that previously resided in the DSA:
(A) Sexually intact females that have not calved must enter with an entry permit and be held until tested negative 30 to 90 days after calving or with a statement on the certificate that the cattle never resided in the DSA.
(B) All cattle must also meet all applicable entry requirements.
5. Tuberculosis testing
c. Cattle from Accredited Free States or Zones require the following: • Beef cattle (including bison), no test is required
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
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.
6. 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.
• Exceptions: Breeding bulls entering Texas as a recent resident, enrolled at a CSS certified artificial insemination facility where the bull(s) was isolated from female cattle and accompanied by documents with an original signature by the veterinarian or manager of the facility 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