Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Bud Hover last week approved several rules designed to enhance the state’s ability to protect livestock, including adopting a fee to pay for an animal disease traceability system that will go into operation next year.
The rules become effective Jan. 30, 2015, except for the animal disease traceability and livestock inspection rules, which begin on July 1.
Hover approved five rules, but the key changes provide for funding of the animal disease traceability system and ensuring a safety net that protects the entire industry. It establishes a per head fee on cattle sold or slaughtered in Washington or transported out of state.
The money raised will support animal disease traceability activities and fund the operation and maintenance of two computer systems.
Another new rule, the livestock brand exemption rule, eliminates the livestock inspection exemption for private sales of unbranded, female, dairy breed cattle.
Additional rules approved last week include a requirement for veterinarians to report cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and valley fever monthly. Also, raw milk dairies that introduce new animals into their herd will have to test for bovine tuberculosis for 60 days, not 30 days, as is currently required.
Source: Daily Sun News