Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 5C-6.005 - Quarantined Feedlots and Quarantined Pastures

(1) Quarantined feedlots. A quarantined feedlot is defined as a confined area under official state quarantine and approved jointly by state and federal animal health officials. Adequate procedures must be maintained to account for all animals entering or leaving the quarantined feedlot. Such quarantined feedlots shall be approved annually. All animals in a quarantined feedlot shall be classified as exposed to brucellosis. No breeding or "two-way" animals shall be allowed in the quarantined feedlot. The feedlot shall be maintained for finish feeding of animals in drylot. If provisions for pasturing or grazing adjacent to the feedlot premises are needed, it must be approved as designated below. All animals except steers and spayed heifers leaving such feedlot must go directly to slaughter; or may be moved directly to another quarantined feedlot with a permit from the state animal health official; or may be hot-iron "S" branded at the feedlot and moved to a specifically approved stockyard or state-approved livestock market to be sold for movement with a federal permit issued at the market directly to another quarantined feedlot or directly to slaughter. Animals originating in any herd in any area may be consigned without test directly to a quarantined feedlot or to a specifically approved stockyard or state-approved livestock market for sale and shipment directly to a quarantined feedlot. All test-eligible animals (see subsection 5C-6.00192(1), F.A.C.) over 18 months of age (as evidenced by the loss of the first pair of temporary incisor teeth) must be tested upon arrival unless they originate from a Class Free Area or from Certified Brucellosis-Free Herds or have proof of a negative test (copies of such proof to be maintained in the quarantined feedlot records) within the previous 30 days. Any reactors disclosed shall remain in the quarantined facility without further identification until removed for slaughter. They shall be traced and handled as any other MCI reactor. Animals consigned to a quarantined feedlot shall not be diverted en route for any other purpose. All animals, (except steers and spayed heifers) shall be permanently identified with a "S" hot-iron brand either on the left jaw or high on the tailhead (over the fourth to the seventh coccygeal vertebrae) upon entering such feedlots.

(2) Requirements for pasture or grazing areas adjacent to a Quarantined Feedlot.

(a) The pasture or grazing area must be located adjacent to the Quarantined Feedlot and must be jointly approved by state and federal animal health officials. It must be enclosed by a double fence (two fences at least 10 feet apart) to eliminate the possibility of direct contact of the quarantined animals with neighboring grazing or breeding animals.

(b) All herd owners with premises which are adjacent to the Quarantined Feedlot's pasture or grazing areas must receive prior notification of this proposed action and must give their written approval.

(c) Records of cattle movements into and out of the pasture or grazing areas must be kept and handled the same as records for the movement of cattle within the feedlot. This will provide inspectors the same surveillance opportunity that exists within the Quarantined Feedlot.

(3) Feedlots. A feedlot is defined as a confined drylot area for finish feeding animals on concentrated feed with no facilities for pasturing or grazing. Animals entering feedlots must meet all required testing procedures at origin and at destination. The feedlot must be treated as a herd if infection is traced to it by surveillance procedures or by epidemiologic measures, and the breeding animals and feedlot will be quarantined until released by testing procedures or slaughter.

(4) A quarantined pasture is defined as a confined grazing area under official state quarantine and approved jointly by state and federal animal health officials. The quarantined pasture shall be for the purpose of utilizing available forage to grow or improve the flesh condition of animals. A quarantined pasture shall not be used for breeding purposes and animals in the pasture must all be the same sex or neutered. The quarantined pasture will be approved for a specific period which shall not exceed 10 months. The pasture shall receive only intrastate animals and no interstate movements shall be made from it except to quarantined feedlots or directly to slaughter.

(5) All test-eligible animals (see subsection 5C-6.00192(1), F.A.C.) over 18 months of age (as evidenced by the loss of the first pair of temporary incisor teeth) must be tested upon arrival unless they originate from a Class Free Area or from Certified Brucellosis-Free Herds or have proof of a negative test (copies of such proof to be maintained in the quarantined pasture records) within the previous 30 days. Any reactors disclosed shall remain in the quarantined facility without further identification until removed for slaughter. They shall be traced and handled as any other MCI reactor.

(6) All animals in a quarantined pasture shall be classified as exposed to brucellosis. All animals except steers and spayed heifers shall be permanently identified by an "S" hot-iron brand on the left jaw or high on the tailhead (over the fourth to seventh coccygeal vertebrae) upon entering the pasture if not already so identified.

(7) All animals, including calves born in the quarantined pasture, must vacate the premises prior to the expiration of the specific period of approval. Calves born in the quarantined pasture shall be hot-iron "S" branded before movement. Movement from the quarantined pasture, except for steers and spayed heifers, shall be only under "S" brand permit to immediate slaughter or to a quarantined feedlot.

(8) The establishment of a quarantined pasture must be approved by the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, upon request and justification by state animal health officials.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 5C-6.005

Rulemaking Authority 585.002(4), 585.08(2) FS. Law Implemented 585.08(1), (3), 585.11(1), (2), 585.155(1), (2), (3), (4) FS.

Amended 9-1-72, 8-1-76, 9-30-80, 6-26-83, 4-1-86, Formerly 5C-6.05, Amended 6-1-92, 7-5-95.

Amended 9-1-72, 8-1-76, 9-30-80, 6-26-83, 4-1-86, Formerly 5C-6.05, Amended 6-1-92, 7-5-95.