Brucellosis Laws in Tennessee: What Livestock Owners Need to Know

Brucellosis is one of the most closely watched livestock diseases in the United States, and Tennessee has maintained a strict regulatory framework around it for decades. If you raise cattle, bison, or other susceptible animals in the Volunteer State, understanding the rules that govern testing, movement, reporting, and quarantine is not optional — it is a legal obligation.

This guide walks you through every layer of Tennessee’s brucellosis laws, from the state’s official classification status to the penalties you could face for non-compliance. Whether you are a seasoned producer or new to livestock ownership, knowing these rules protects your herd, your neighbors’ herds, and your bottom line.

What Is Brucellosis and Why It Is Regulated in Tennessee

Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease that poses serious risks to both livestock and humans. Brucellosis is the contagious, infectious, and communicable disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, also known as Bang’s disease, undulant fever, and contagious abortion. In cattle and bison, the disease primarily causes reproductive losses — including abortions, stillbirths, and reduced milk production — that can devastate a herd’s productivity and value.

The human health dimension is equally serious. Direct contact with body fluids or tissue from a confirmed case, veterinary occupational exposure to Brucella vaccine, laboratory exposure, or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products are recognized exposure pathways for humans. This zoonotic potential is a key reason why both state and federal authorities regulate the disease so aggressively.

Tennessee’s regulatory authority over brucellosis flows from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Division of Animal Health, operating under T.C.A. §§ 44-2-1302, 44-10-204, 44-11-112, and 4-3-203. At the federal level, APHIS Veterinary Services disease eradication programs include cooperative State-Federal efforts directed at cattle and swine brucellosis. Tennessee’s rules must align with the federal Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R) and 9 C.F.R. Part 78, creating an interlocking state-federal compliance framework that every livestock owner in Tennessee must navigate.

You should also be aware that brucellosis regulations extend beyond cattle. Swine, bison, and certain cervids are also subject to specific testing and movement rules under Tennessee’s animal health statutes, making it important to know which species you own and what category they fall into under the law. If you keep goats alongside your cattle operation, you may want to review goat ownership laws in Tennessee for additional context on how the state regulates multiple species simultaneously.

Tennessee’s Brucellosis Classification Status

Understanding Tennessee’s official classification is the foundation for interpreting every other rule in this guide. A 1997 Federal Register final rule amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of cattle by changing the classification of Tennessee from Class A to Class Free. That interim rule was effective on February 28, 1997.

Tennessee has maintained that Class Free designation ever since. Under 9 C.F.R. § 78.43, Tennessee is listed among the validated brucellosis-free states. This is the highest classification available under the federal brucellosis program and reflects a sustained, multi-decade eradication effort.

The brucellosis regulations provide a system for classifying states or portions of states according to the rate of Brucella abortus infection present and the general effectiveness of a brucellosis control and eradication program. The classifications are Class Free, Class A, Class B, and Class C; states or areas that do not meet the minimum standards for Class C status are required to be placed under federal quarantine.

Restrictions on moving cattle and bison interstate become less stringent as a state or area approaches or achieves Class Free status. In practical terms, this means Tennessee producers enjoy fewer movement barriers than producers in lower-classified states — but the Class Free designation comes with ongoing surveillance obligations that you must meet to keep the status intact. You can compare how neighboring states handle these obligations by reviewing brucellosis laws in Missouri or brucellosis laws in Nebraska.

Vaccination Requirements in Tennessee

Because Tennessee holds Class Free status, mandatory statewide vaccination programs are not a routine feature of its brucellosis framework the way they are in lower-classified states. However, vaccination remains a recognized tool within the broader eradication program, and specific rules govern how vaccinated animals are identified and treated for regulatory purposes.

Under federal UM&R standards incorporated by reference into Tennessee’s rules, an official vaccinate is a female bovine animal that received an approved Brucella vaccine administered by or under the supervision of an accredited veterinarian and was officially identified at the time of vaccination. The distinction between official vaccinates and non-vaccinates matters significantly when animals move across state lines from lower-classified states into Tennessee.

• Official vaccinates from Class C states entering Tennessee face a single negative test requirement rather than the more burdensome two-test protocol applied to non-vaccinates.
• Vaccination records must be documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) accompanying the animal.
• Calfhood vaccination, when performed, must be administered between four and twelve months of age using a USDA-approved vaccine to qualify for official vaccinate status.
• Bulls are not eligible for official vaccinate status under the brucellosis program.

The Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd status is valid for 12 months. The UM&R contain minimum standards for certifying herds, classifying states and areas, and detecting, controlling, and eradicating brucellosis, as well as minimum brucellosis requirements for the intrastate and interstate movement of cattle and bison.

If your herd holds Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd status, a herd of cattle or bison qualifies for such status when its owner has been issued a certified brucellosis-free herd certificate signed by the appropriate state animal health official and the Veterinarian in Charge. Maintaining that certification requires ongoing compliance with testing schedules and herd management protocols set by the State Veterinarian.

Testing Requirements for Cattle and Bison in Tennessee

Testing is the cornerstone of Tennessee’s brucellosis compliance system. The rules draw a critical distinction between which animals are subject to testing and which are exempt, so you need to understand exactly where your animals fall.

Who is test-eligible? Test-eligible cattle are all cattle, with the exception of steers and spayed heifers, that are eighteen months of age or older as evidenced by the eruption of the first permanent incisor teeth, regardless of vaccination status; and all female cattle that are parturient or post-parturient, regardless of vaccination status and age.

Females regardless of age or vaccination status that are parturient or post-parturient are considered test-eligible cattle. Steers and spayed heifers are not considered test-eligible.

Change-of-ownership testing: No test-eligible bovine animal shall be sold, offered for sale, traded, given away, or moved for the purpose of changing ownership unless accompanied by evidence of a negative official test for brucellosis which was conducted within thirty (30) days prior to the sale or movement, except for cattle originating directly from a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd.

The following timing rules apply to test results used at the point of sale:

• Official private negative tests on farms will meet the requirements for thirty (30) days.
• Negative market tests will meet the requirement for eight (8) days.
• Cattle may be sold or otherwise transferred to a licensed livestock dealer without the required prior test, provided that dealer meets the testing requirement within seventy-two (72) hours. The burden of satisfying the change-of-ownership test requirement shall be upon the person who sells or offers for sale any test-eligible animal, and upon any licensed dealer who purchases such animal.

Auction and market testing: At approved livestock markets, dispersal sales, and other auction sales, test-eligible cattle shall be identified with official backtags at the first concentration or assembly point and tested for brucellosis prior to leaving the premises. Cattle shall maintain original backtag identification while in trade or marketing channels.

This brucellosis test requirement shall also apply to herd dispersal sales, herd reduction sales, and/or all other sales where cattle are offered at public auction.

Slaughter establishment testing: Slaughter establishments shall identify with official backtags and shall collect blood samples from all animals. Slaughter establishments include any person, business, firm, partnership, or corporation that buys or receives cattle for slaughter, including but not limited to federally inspected slaughter establishments.

Infected and previously quarantined herds: Frequency and duration of brucellosis testing of known infected herds, and age of animals to be tested, shall be determined by the State Veterinarian, or his representative, based on recommended guidelines as set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R), or as may be necessary, in their professional opinion, to rid the herd of infection and to prevent spread of the disease to other cattle.

Previously infected herds of cattle shall be subjected to at least one additional test not less than ninety (90) days following their release from quarantine.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules in Tennessee

Movement rules are where Tennessee’s Class Free status has the most direct impact on your daily operations. Because Tennessee is a validated brucellosis-free state, animals moving within Tennessee from other Class Free herds face fewer barriers — but animals arriving from lower-classified states trigger a more demanding compliance process.

Importing from Class A and Class B states: Dairy and breeding cattle entering Tennessee from non-quarantined herds in Class A and Class B states shall be accompanied by proof that such cattle have tested negative on an official test for brucellosis that was conducted within the preceding thirty (30) days.

Importing from Class C states: Non-vaccinates from Class C states must have had negative results on two consecutive official tests for brucellosis prior to movement. The first test shall be conducted not less than sixty (60) days and not more than twelve (12) months before movement. The second test shall have been conducted not less than sixty (60) days after the first test and not more than thirty (30) days before movement. Between tests, the cattle being tested shall be kept separated from all other cattle, and the dates for both tests shall be recorded on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

Quarantine and retesting after arrival: Test-eligible cattle originating from Class B and Class C states shall be quarantined and retested for brucellosis not less than forty-five (45) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after arrival. Cattle imported to approved markets or to the premises of licensed dealers may be permitted a single movement under quarantine to a farm premises where retesting is accomplished.

General import documentation requirements: All dairy and breeding cattle transported into or through the state of Tennessee, regardless of age and origin and except as specifically exempted, shall be officially, individually identified by permanent means such as a coded metal ear tag, RFID device, registration tattoo, or registration brand. An official certificate of veterinary inspection is a legible record on a form adopted and approved for such use by the appropriate animal health official of the state of origin, prepared by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin, that certifies the inspection or examination of the animal(s) described thereon.

An entry permit is a verbal or written pre-movement authorization for entry of livestock into Tennessee, issued by the Tennessee State Veterinarian or his agent. Entry permits are required for test-eligible cattle arriving from Class B and Class C states.

Reactor, exposed, and quarantined cattle: Cattle that are classified as reactor animals, exposed animals, or that are under quarantine for any reason shall bear appropriate individual identification and be accompanied by a shipping permit.

For context on how neighboring states handle similar movement rules, you may find it useful to compare brucellosis laws in Michigan and brucellosis laws in Minnesota, both of which operate under the same federal classification framework.

Reporting and Quarantine Requirements in Tennessee

When brucellosis is suspected or confirmed, Tennessee law triggers an immediate set of reporting and quarantine obligations. These provisions are designed to contain the disease before it can spread to neighboring herds.

Suspicion triggers state action: Whenever there is cause to suspect that cattle are infected with or exposed to brucellosis, the State Veterinarian, or his representative, shall apply such quarantine and tests as may be necessary to rid the herd of infection and to prevent spread of the disease to other cattle.

Owner obligations during quarantine: The owner of such cattle, or his agent, shall assemble his cattle and present them in a chute, headgate, or other suitable facility for examination and testing by state or federal animal health officials. Cooperation with the State Veterinarian is mandatory, not optional.

Scope of herd quarantine: When a herd of cattle is placed in quarantine because of brucellosis, all bovine animals in the herd are included in the quarantine restrictions. Movement of any animal from the herd, so long as the quarantine restrictions are in effect, shall be done only with the permission of the State or Federal Animal Health Representative immediately responsible for managing the eradication effort in the infected herd.

Exposed animal identification: An exposed animal (brucellosis) is any animal, except a brucellosis reactor animal, that is part of a herd known to be affected by, or that has been in contact with, a brucellosis reactor animal in marketing or other channels for twenty-four (24) hours, or for less than twenty-four (24) hours if such brucellosis reactor animal has aborted or calved within the past thirty (30) days or has a vaginal discharge.

Once a herd is placed under quarantine, the movement restrictions apply to the entire herd — not just confirmed reactors. This means you could face restrictions on animals that have tested negative if they share a herd with a confirmed reactor.

Post-quarantine follow-up testing: Previously infected herds of cattle shall be subjected to at least one additional test not less than ninety (90) days following their release from quarantine. This follow-up requirement ensures that the herd is genuinely clear before full movement privileges are restored.

Tennessee’s animal health regulations intersect with a broader set of livestock and animal laws in the state. Understanding how animal cruelty laws in Tennessee interact with livestock management obligations can also be relevant when enforcement actions involve animal welfare concerns alongside disease control.

Penalties for Brucellosis Violations in Tennessee

Tennessee takes brucellosis compliance seriously, and the penalty structure reflects that. Violations can result in civil fines, criminal charges, mandatory depopulation of infected animals, and loss of market access — consequences that can be financially devastating for a livestock operation of any size.

Statutory authority: Tennessee’s brucellosis enforcement authority derives from T.C.A. § 44-3-108 and related provisions of Title 44, which govern livestock disease control and give the State Veterinarian broad authority to enforce quarantines, compel testing, and pursue legal action against non-compliant owners.

Categories of violations and their consequences:

1. Selling or moving a test-eligible animal without required documentation — Any person who sells, offers for sale, trades, gives away, or moves a test-eligible bovine without a valid negative brucellosis test result is in direct violation of Tennessee’s change-of-ownership testing rules. This applies to both sellers and licensed dealers who fail to complete testing within the required 72-hour window.
2. Moving animals from a quarantined herd without permission — Moving any animal from a quarantined herd without authorization from the State or Federal Animal Health Representative is a serious violation that can result in criminal prosecution under Tennessee livestock disease statutes.
3. Failure to cooperate with testing or quarantine orders — Refusing to assemble cattle for testing when ordered by the State Veterinarian, or obstructing an official brucellosis investigation, constitutes a violation of T.C.A. § 44-2-1302 and related provisions.
4. Importing animals without required entry permits or documentation — Bringing test-eligible cattle from Class B or Class C states into Tennessee without the required entry permit, certificate of veterinary inspection, or proof of negative test is a violation of Tennessee Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-02-01.
5. False documentation — Submitting falsified test results, CVIs, or shipping permits is subject to the most severe penalties, including criminal fraud charges under Tennessee law in addition to animal health statute violations.

Depopulation of infected animals: When an animal is confirmed as a brucellosis reactor, Tennessee rules — consistent with federal UM&R — require depopulation. Importers or owners of an infected bull in the state shall cause the animal to be slaughtered and sanitarily disposed of within 30 days of being determined infected. Importers or owners of an infected bull shall not move the animal except under authorization of a USDA Veterinary Services 1-27 permit issued by the state veterinarian for movement of the bull directly to slaughter or sale directly for slaughter through a licensed livestock market.

Loss of Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd status: A confirmed brucellosis case in your herd will result in the immediate suspension of your Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd certification, which eliminates the testing exemptions that certification provides and can significantly restrict your ability to market breeding stock until the herd is retested and cleared.

If you are involved in other regulated livestock or animal activities in Tennessee, it is worth understanding the full scope of the state’s animal regulatory environment. Resources on hunting laws in Tennessee and wildlife removal laws in Tennessee can help you understand how the state approaches disease-relevant wildlife interactions, including feral swine and deer that can serve as brucellosis vectors in some regions.

For producers who also manage working dogs on their operations, reviewing dog leash laws in Tennessee and dog chaining laws in Tennessee ensures full compliance across all animals on your property, not just the livestock subject to brucellosis rules.

Staying compliant with Tennessee’s brucellosis laws ultimately comes down to three habits: keeping accurate testing and vaccination records, contacting the Tennessee Department of Agriculture before any interstate movement of test-eligible animals, and reporting suspected cases immediately. The regulatory framework exists to protect your herd as much as to enforce the law — and producers who work within it are far better positioned than those who learn the rules only after a violation occurs.