The Florida Senate

585.155  Whole-herd and calf vaccination.--

(1)  All female calves born in the state that are to be used for dairy breeding purposes shall be vaccinated with an approved Brucella abortus vaccine by state or federal regulatory officials or licensed, accredited veterinarians.

(2)(a)  All calves officially vaccinated with Brucella abortus vaccine shall be permanently identified at the time of vaccination with the official shield tattoo "V," registered by the United States Department of Agriculture, in the right ear, preceded by the numeral of the quarter of the year and followed by the last numeral of the year.

(b)  In addition, each calf shall be individually identified at the time of vaccination, if not already identified by tattoo or brand, by an official vaccination ear tag in the right ear. The tag shall include the designated state prefix, followed by the letter "V," two additional letters, and four numerals. Registration tattoos or individual brand numbers may be substituted for the official ear tags. This identification shall be accurately recorded on the official vaccination record.

(c)  Duplicate reports covering these vaccinations shall be immediately furnished to the department and shall constitute the official record of vaccination.

(3)  Each owner of a herd of cattle in this state shall enroll the herd in a program to determine whether the herd is infected with brucellosis. When reactors or suspects are disclosed in a herd, the department and the owner must develop a plan to eliminate the infection in accordance with the Uniform Methods and Rules for Brucellosis Eradication and the rules of this state. The plan shall include the required testing, removal of reactor animals, calfhood vaccination and whole-herd vaccination to clear the herd of infection. The department shall provide for the establishment of low brucellosis incidence areas and brucellosis free areas which can be recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as having Class "Free," Class "A," or Class "B" status under the Uniform Methods and Rules for Brucellosis Eradication.

(4)  Only an approved vaccine produced under license of the United States Department of Agriculture shall qualify for vaccination purposes under this section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 77-202; s. 1, ch. 79-102; s. 417, ch. 81-259; s. 18, ch. 90-321; s. 64, ch. 93-169; s. 13, ch. 96-231; s. 34, ch. 2001-279.