Section 77-5-4 - Dairy cattle; importation; tests. - New Mexico Statutes

77-5-4. Dairy cattle; importation; tests.

All cattle intended for dairy or milking purposes or for the breeding of dairy cattle brought into this state in any manner must be tagged for identification and must be accompanied by a permit from the board and a certificate signed by some duly qualified veterinarian of the United States department of agriculture or of some state or territory showing record of tuberculine test made immediately prior to shipment and showing that they are free from infection, except in cases where cattle are from accredited herds, modified accredited areas, accredited areas or free areas created and supervised by the United States department of agriculture and state cooperating agency, in which event such cattle must be accompanied by a certificate from a duly qualified veterinarian of the United States department of agriculture or a state recognized veterinarian.  Copies of such certificates shall be mailed by the officer making same to the director of the board.  Such cattle after coming into the state, if deemed necessary, shall be held for a period of sixty to ninety days or until retested and released in quarantine under such rules as may be provided by the board and shall not be allowed to mingle with nor occupy the same range, pasture, lots, corrals, pens, barns or sheds with other animals.  Such cattle shall be tested again before the expiration of the ninety days but no sooner than sixty days by a qualified veterinarian duly authorized by the board and the report of the test filed with the board.  Provided, that if any such cattle when retested for tuberculosis shall react and shall be destroyed in accordance with the provisions of this article, the owners of the cattle shall not be reimbursed for the loss of any such imported cattle.