VET VIEWS
NEW CALIFORNIA BRUCELLOSIS REGULATIONS RESTRICTIONS LOOSEN AFTER LONGSTANDING VIGILANCE BY CATTLE PRODUCERS
by Anita Varga, DVM, MS, DACVIM, bovine specialist, California Department of Food and Agriculture Bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus), also called bangs disease, is a contagious, infectious and communicable bacterial infection that can lead to abortion, stillbirths or birth of weak calves, reduced milk production and infertility in cattle. This disease, known as undulant fever in humans, can be transmitted through consumption of infected milk and other excretions such as uterine fluid. In people, infection with brucellosis can have serious chronic health consequences such as fatigue, headaches, high fever and chills, joint pain, weight loss and a decreased appetite. As ranchers are likely aware, California has been bovine brucellosis free since 1997 and hence the Cattle Health Advisory Task Force recommended a change in the brucellosis vaccination requirement laws for beef breed cattle in California as well as beef breed cattle moving into the state due to the very low risk of brucellosis infection. Additionally, the United States has been classified as brucellosis free since 2009. What has changed for female beef breed cattle? Effective Oct. 1, 2021, calfhood brucellosis vaccination of female beef breed cattle is not mandatory. However, at the request of the owner, beef cattle can be still be vaccinated for brucellosis with an approved Brucella vaccine between four months and 12 months of age. What about calfhood brucellosis vaccinations for female dairy breed cattle? Calfhood vaccination for female dairy breed cattle has not changed and all female dairy cattle shall be vaccinated between four months and 12 months of age.
28 California Cattleman November 2021
What about the movement of cattle within California (intrastate movement)? Brucellosis vaccination is not required for female beef breed cattle moving within the state or changing ownership within California. Please be reminded that movement of female dairy breed cattle within California still requires brucellosis vaccination. What about Interstate Movement? Brucellosis vaccination is not required for female beef breed cattle entering California. However, based on the current animal traceability regulations all beef breed cattle over the age of six months need to be individually identified with an official identification such as a NUES tag or an electronic RFID tag prior to shipment to California. Brucellosis vaccination is still required for female dairy breed cattle entering California. Also, cattle moving into California from a designated brucellosis surveillance area still require a negative brucellosis blood test obtained within 30 days prior shipment to California. These new laws are helping the California cattle industry to facilitate a simpler movement of cattle within the State and enhances the movement of cattle coming into California. It also decreases the costs of vaccinations. Please contact the CDFA Animal Health Branch (AHB) permit desk with any questions regarding movement requirements of cattle at 916-900-5002 or send an email to ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov. Additionally you can access the updated code of regulations (CCR) following this link: https://www.cdfa. ca.gov/Regulations.html.
