§ 106-390. Blood sample testing; diseased animals to be branded and quarantined; sale; removal of identification, etc. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 106‑390.  Bloodsample testing; diseased animals to be branded and quarantined; sale; removalof identification, etc.

All blood samples for the brucellosis test shall be drawn by personswhose qualifications are set by regulation of the Board of Agriculture. Animalsfrom which blood is collected for a brucellosis test shall be identified bynumbered ear tag, tattoo, or in some other manner approved by the Commissionerof Agriculture. It shall be the duty of the person who collects the bloodsample, or other designated authorized person, to brand all cattle affectedwith brucellosis with the letter "B" on the left hip or jaw, not lessthan three or more than four inches high, tag such animals with an approvedbrucellosis reactor ear tag, and report the same to the State Veterinarian. Itshall be the duty of the person owning said cattle at the time of said testingto assist with and cooperate with the person testing said cattle. Cattleaffected with brucellosis shall be quarantined and slaughtered at a State orfederally inspected slaughter plant within 10 days after branding and tagging;provided the State Veterinarian, in his discretion, may grant an extension oftime for said slaughter not to exceed 30 days; and provided further that theCommissioner of Agriculture may allow a branded and tagged animal havingunusual breeding value to be held for a period of time determined by him underconditions of isolation and quarantine prescribed by the State Veterinarian.Animals believed by the State Veterinarian or his authorized representative tohave been exposed to brucellosis, or animals classified as suspects, shall bequarantined on the owner's premises or at such other place as is mutuallyagreeable to the owner and the State Veterinarian until the quarantine isremoved in accordance with law or until the animal is disposed of in accordancewith law. No animal affected with, or exposed to, brucellosis shall be sold,traded or otherwise disposed of except for immediate slaughter,  and it shallbe the duty of the person disposing of such infected animals to see that theyare promptly slaughtered and a written report of same made to the StateVeterinarian.

All cattle, swine, sheep, goats or other animals subject to infectionby Brucella organisms, sold, or offered at public sale, except for immediateslaughter, shall be subject to test requirements established by the Board ofAgriculture.

No ear tag, back tag, or other mark of identification approved by theCommissioner of Agriculture for identifying animals for the purpose ofbrucellosis testing, including testing at slaughter plants, shall be removedfrom the animal without authorization from the State Veterinarian or hisauthorized representative. (1937, c. 175, s. 3; 1945, c. 462, s. 2; 1959, c. 1171; 1963, c. 489;1967, c. 511; 1969, c. 465.)