Rule making process – WLSB considers rule changes, updates
Casper – During their meeting on Nov. 30, the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) considered an agenda that included discussion on three chapters of rules that went out for public comment.
“The staff has been working on updating our rules, which is all part of the Governor’s Rules Initiative from two years ago,” said Wyoming State Veterinarian Jim Logan. “We’ve been making updated revisions on Chapter Eight and Chapter 14, but the rules for Chapter Two, Chapter 13 and Chapter 15 went out for public comment, which ended on Sept. 4.”
Chapter Two rules, titled, “Vaccination Against and Surveillance for Brucellosis,” were passed by the Board with only minor changes to reflect official USDA Animal and Plant Health Identification Service information.
Scrapie
The WLSB also reviewed Chapter 13 “Scrapie Prevention and Management Rules,” ultimately deciding to make several substantive comments related to goats and send the rules back out for comment.
“I suggest that we add Caprine, which are goats,” Logan said. “The federal rule adds Caprine, so I suggest we add that and delete the exemption for goats.”
Because the change would be substantial, the rules will go back out for public comment, but the Board opted to wait until after Dec. 9, when the federal rule is released, to ensure no other changes would be necessary for compliance with the federal rule.
Trichomoniasis
The Chapter 15 rule, “Trichomoniasis Rules,” also will be re-released for public comment after the Board made the decision to make changes that would allow pooling and to remove “culture test” from the definition section.
The Board opted to include pooling of samples for trichomoniasis to alleviate costs for producers while still maintaining sampling integrity.
“Pooling is taking samples from more than one animal and sending them to the lab for testing together,” Logan explained. “Usually we are talking about a finite number of samples, no more than 10, from one herd, and they can be run together.”
While pooling samples can miss three percent of animals positive for trichomoniasis, the cost and import considerations were considered by the Board as significant.
“At the Wyoming State Vet Lab, a culture test is eight dollars or six dollars for three or more,” said Logan. “PCR tests are $30 per sample or $25 for more than 10. The culture test is always less expensive.”
“I don’t think we are putting the industry at risk where we allow pooling,” Logan said, noting that herds that are in quarantine for trichomoniasis will not be allowed to pool samples.
It was also noted that surrounding states allow pooling of samples, which has created import challenges for some producers.
WLSB will send the rules for Chapter 13 and 15 back out for public comment after the changes are made, to be finalized at a later date.
Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.
