Qualifications and Eligibility Requirements on Brucellosis Indemnity Payments

PURPOSE: This rule explains in detail the conditions under which a cattle herd owner may collect indemnity payments for animals slaughtered because of brucellosis. (1) Section 267.490, RSMo states that “no indemnity shall be paid if, in the judgment of the state veterinarian, the animal does not qualify for indemnity or the owner is ineligible for payments.” Furthermore, the owner must be carrying on an approved brucellosis control program in his/her herd to be eligible for indemnity payments. The regulations clarify these statements as follows: (A) Indemnity payments will not be paid on the following classes of livestock: 1. Any test-eligible animal that moved into Missouri without a negative blood test for brucellosis, or without an approved health certificate, permit, or both, when applicable, or in violation of any other health requirement for admission; 2. Any non-Missouri animal imported into the state that originated from a known infected or quarantined herd, or determined otherwise to be an exposed animal; and 3. Cattle owned by dealers and traders moving in trade channels within Missouri; (B) In order to be eligible, any animal on which indemnity is requested must have been in Missouri for at least ninety (90) days and negative to an approved brucellosis test upon entry; (C) Any animal on which an indemnity claim is made must be properly tagged and branded within fifteen (15) days of disclosure, sold for slaughter within fifteen (15) days of branding and proof of slaughter obtained from meat inspection. Home slaughter by the original owner for home consumption is allowed, but proof of slaughter must be supplied; (D) Section 267.490, RSMo states that “an owner must be carrying on an approved brucellosis control program in the herd.” The herd requirement would exclude dealers, traders, as any group of assembled cows would not constitute a herd. Also, an approved brucellosis control program would include complete herd test as opposed to partial herd tests, regular herd retest intervals and also cooperation in adopting proven disease control and eradication procedures by the owner. In herd depopulations, the owner accepts additional responsibilities including a requirement for complete herd depopulations, including all heifers, a cleaning and disinfecting (C&D) requirement of the premises and a requirement to test all herd replacements including valid test papers on all animals purchased in order to be eligible for indemnity; and (E) In herd depopulations, a written agreement outlining the requirements shall be signed by the owner and the chief regulatory official (state or federal) in the district in which the depopulation occurs. Authorization for the depopulation is to be approved by the state veterinarian and the amount of indemnity to be mutually agreed to prior to signing of the agreement. AUTHORITY: section 267.475, RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed Dec. 19, 1975, effective Dec. 29, 1975. Amended: Filed Dec. 14, 1976, effective April 11, 1977. Emergency amendment filed June 5, 1992, effective June 15, 1992, expired Oct. 12, 1992. Amended: Filed March 3, 1992, effective Sept. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed Jan. 31, 1995, effective July 30, 1995. Amended: Filed Jan. 4, 1999, effective July 30, 1999. *Original authority: 267.475, RSMo 1955.