Florida Brucellosis Laws: What Cattle and Bison Owners Need to Know

Florida has one of the most agriculturally significant livestock industries in the southeastern United States, and protecting that industry from brucellosis is a cornerstone of the state’s animal health framework. Whether you raise beef cattle, dairy cattle, or bison, understanding Florida’s brucellosis laws is not optional — it is a legal obligation that carries real consequences if ignored.

This guide walks you through every layer of Florida’s brucellosis regulatory structure: what the disease is, how the state is classified, what vaccination and testing rules apply, how movement is governed, and what happens if you violate the rules. If you own livestock in Florida or plan to import animals into the state, this is what you need to know.

What Is Brucellosis and Why It Is Regulated in Florida

Brucellosis — also known as contagious abortion or Bang’s disease — is a costly disease of livestock and wildlife caused by a group of bacteria in the genus Brucella. The disease has significant consequences for animal health, public health, and international trade, and it occurs mainly in cattle, bison, and swine, but can affect other animals including cervids, goats, sheep, and horses — as well as people.

Brucella abortus (B. abortus) primarily affects bovine species, though goats, sheep, and horses are also susceptible. B. suis primarily affects porcine species, and a third strain, B. melitensis, primarily affects goats and sheep.

In its principal animal hosts, brucellosis causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of weak offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. It can affect both animals and humans and is transmitted from animals by direct contact with infected blood, placentas, fetuses, or uterine secretions, or through the consumption of infected materials.

There is no economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in livestock. This is precisely why Florida — and the federal government — place such strong emphasis on prevention, surveillance, and eradication rather than treatment. The livestock and dairy industries and the American consumer have realized great financial savings from the success of the Cooperative State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, with annual losses from lowered milk production, aborted calves and pigs, and reduced breeding efficiency decreasing from more than $400 million in 1952 to less than $1 million.

For more on how Florida regulates other aspects of animal ownership, see goat ownership laws in Florida and pet laws in Florida.

Florida’s Brucellosis Classification Status

The brucellosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR Part 78, provide a system for classifying states or portions of states according to the rate of Brucella 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.

Florida was changed from Class A to Class Free status after federal regulators determined the state met the standards for that designation. On December 12, 2001, the Department of Agriculture declared Florida free of brucellosis. That Class Free status has been maintained since then.

A Class Free state is one that meets standards certified by the State animal health official, the Veterinarian in Charge, and the USDA Administrator. For initial classification or reclassification, all cattle herds in the state must have remained free of Brucella abortus for 12 consecutive months, and the state must have a cattle herd infection rate of 0.0 percent or 0 herds per 1,000.

Restrictions on moving cattle interstate become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves Class Free status. For Florida livestock owners, this means fewer mandatory pre-movement testing requirements compared to states with lower classifications — but it does not mean brucellosis regulations disappear entirely. Florida’s own statutes and administrative rules under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5C-6 continue to govern herd management, vaccination, and testing within the state.

You can compare how neighboring states handle brucellosis classification by reviewing brucellosis laws in Nebraska and brucellosis laws in Missouri.

Vaccination Requirements in Florida

Florida law establishes specific vaccination mandates under Florida Statutes Chapter 585 and Florida Administrative Code Rule 5C-6.0014. These requirements focus primarily on female calves intended for dairy breeding purposes.

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. This is not a recommendation — it is a statutory requirement under Florida law.

Only an approved vaccine produced under license of the United States Department of Agriculture shall qualify for vaccination purposes under this section. Using an unapproved product does not satisfy the legal requirement, even if the animal receives a Brucella-related injection.

Official Vaccination Identification Requirements

Vaccination alone is not enough — Florida law requires that vaccinated calves be permanently and officially identified. 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.

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.

At the federal level, the definition of an “official calfhood vaccinate” mirrors Florida’s requirements. An official calfhood vaccinate is a female animal vaccinated while from 4 through 12 months of age by an APHIS representative, State representative, or accredited veterinarian with a reduced dose approved brucella vaccine, and permanently identified by a tattoo and by an official vaccination eartag in the right ear.

An approved brucella vaccine is a Brucella product approved by and produced under license of the United States Department of Agriculture for injection into cattle or bison to enhance their resistance to brucellosis. Confirm that any product used by your veterinarian meets this standard.

Testing Requirements for Cattle and Bison in Florida

Because Florida holds Class Free status, routine pre-movement blood testing for cattle originating within the state is largely reduced compared to Class A, B, or C states. However, testing requirements remain active in several important contexts.

Market Cattle and Bison Testing

Market cattle and bison are those animals moving in trade through auction markets or stockyards or to slaughtering establishments, as well as those animals assembled at farms or ranches being readied for immediate movement to markets, stockyards, or slaughtering establishments, or other sales. Such animals must be identified to the herd of origin by eartag and/or backtag prior to or at the first point of concentration in marketing channels.

Test-eligible animals over 18 months of age — as evidenced by loss of the first pair of temporary incisor teeth — must be tested unless they originate from Class Free areas, or Certified Brucellosis-Free Herds, or have proof of meeting the test requirements for movement. Since Florida is a Class Free state, animals originating within Florida generally qualify for this exemption when moving within or from the state.

Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd Testing

Florida cattle owners have the option to pursue Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd status, which provides additional movement flexibility and market advantages. Under Florida Administrative Code Rule 5C-6.002:

• A herd may be certified as brucellosis-free when it has passed at least two consecutive negative tests of all test-eligible cattle or bison not less than 10 months nor more than 14 months apart.
• Where the milk ring test is employed, herds may be officially certified as brucellosis-free with a minimum of four consecutive negative milk ring tests conducted at not less than 90-day intervals, followed by a negative complete herd blood test conducted within 90 days after the last negative milk ring test.
• For continuous certification, a herd must have a negative herd blood test conducted within 60 days before the certification anniversary date.

Failure on the part of the holder of a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd certificate to comply with these rules and regulations or to maintain adequate surveillance measures and proper testing schedules will result in revocation of such certification.

Herd Enrollment and Surveillance

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. This is a broad statutory obligation that applies to all cattle herd owners in Florida, regardless of herd size or purpose.

A complete herd blood test must include all cattle or bison six months of age and older, except steers and spayed heifers, unless otherwise specified by a Designated Epidemiologist.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules in Florida

Florida’s movement rules operate on two tracks: rules governing animals coming into Florida from other states, and rules governing animals moving within Florida. Both are shaped by the state’s Class Free designation and by Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5C-3.

Importing Cattle and Bison Into Florida

A brucellosis test is not required for dairy and beef cattle or bison for importation into Florida provided that the animals originate from a Brucellosis Class-Free State or Area, or originate from a Certified Brucellosis Free Herd.

Additional exemptions from the import brucellosis test include:

• Animals that are official brucellosis vaccinated animals under 18 months of age, or are steers or spayed heifers, or are consigned directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment.

However, if the animals do not qualify for any of those exemptions:

• A negative brucellosis test, as provided in the Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules, is required within 30 days prior to importation for dairy and beef cattle or bison not otherwise exempted.

Cattle or bison infected with or exposed to tuberculosis or brucellosis may be imported only if consigned directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment. Such animals must be accompanied by a Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, VS Form 1-27, and must have a Prior Permission Number.

Interstate Movement Out of Florida

Florida’s Class Free status relieves certain restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle from Florida. Test-eligible cattle offered for sale interstate from other than certified-free herds must have a negative test under Class A status regulations, but not under regulations concerning Class Free status. This means Florida cattle owners shipping animals to other states face significantly fewer brucellosis testing hurdles than owners in lower-classified states.

A Permit for Interstate Movement from USDA Approved Livestock Facility (FDACS-09158) or equivalent form approved by the state of origin can be issued by an Approved Livestock Facility as a valid interstate movement document for cattle moving between Florida, Alabama, Georgia, or Mississippi.

Intrastate Movement Within Florida

Animals moving within Florida must comply with the market cattle identification requirements of Florida Administrative Code Rule 5C-6.00191. Animals that are part of a known infected herd or that have been in contact with brucellosis reactors in marketing channels for periods of 24 hours — or periods of less than 24 hours if the reactor has recently aborted, calved, or has a vaginal or uterine discharge — are considered to be exposed regardless of blood test results and must be placed under quarantine and restricted pending slaughter or testing.

For context on how Florida handles movement and ownership regulations for other animals, see brucellosis laws in Michigan and brucellosis laws in Minnesota.

Reporting and Quarantine Requirements in Florida

Florida’s brucellosis reporting and quarantine framework is built into Chapter 585 of the Florida Statutes and is enforced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Animal Industry.

Herd Enrollment and Infection Reporting

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. This individual herd plan is a joint effort between the herd owner and regulatory officials.

If infection is suspected or confirmed, regulatory officials will contact you, the owner, or both, to develop a herd plan. You should not wait for officials to reach out — proactive reporting is both a legal and practical obligation.

For human health reporting, please notify the health department immediately upon suspicion or laboratory test order for Brucella, 24/7 by phone per Florida Rule 64-D3.

Quarantine Authority and Procedures

The Division of Animal Industry is authorized to establish, maintain, and enforce quarantine areas within the state, or the entire state. This is a broad power that can be applied to individual premises, herds, or wider geographic areas.

A quarantine means a strict isolation imposed on animals, or premises or other defined geographic areas, to prevent the spread of disease or pests.

Once a quarantine is in place, the following restrictions apply:

• No person shall knowingly sell or offer for sale, or knowingly or willfully transport or move, or knowingly or willfully allow or permit any animal to stray or drift within the state, knowing that animal to be suffering from or affected by any dangerous, transmissible, or threatening disease, without first obtaining written permission from the department.
• No person shall knowingly or willfully transport or move, or knowingly or willfully allow or permit any domestic animal to stray or drift from any quarantine area, without first obtaining written permission from the department.
• Whenever the department issues a quarantine, it shall be unlawful for any person, while such quarantine exists, to take, drive, or transport any animal into or out of such quarantined premise without permission of the State Veterinarian.

Traceback and Epidemiological Investigations

The herd of origin must be blood tested unless the epidemiologic investigation indicates conclusively that the titers are not caused by field strains of Brucella abortus. If the investigation reveals titers were not caused by field strain Brucella abortus, and the herd is not tested, a statement will be prepared by the regulatory official indicating this was discussed with the herd owner or his representative and listing the reasons the herd was not tested.

The statement shall be signed by both parties and both parties shall retain a copy. Keep all documentation related to any brucellosis investigation involving your herd.

For related Florida animal law topics, see wildlife removal laws in Florida and backyard chicken laws in Florida.

Penalties for Brucellosis Violations in Florida

Florida takes brucellosis violations seriously. Penalties can be civil, financial, and in some cases criminal, depending on the nature and severity of the violation. The enforcement framework is grounded in Chapter 585 of the Florida Statutes.

Civil and Financial Liability

In addition to the penalty provisions provided in this chapter, any person who violates the disease movement restrictions shall be liable to the department for all expenses associated with its enforcement and to any owner of an animal who is injured by such violation.

This means that if you knowingly move a brucellosis-infected or exposed animal without authorization and other livestock owners suffer losses as a result, you can be held financially responsible for those damages — on top of any fines or enforcement costs the state imposes.

Quarantine Violation Consequences

Whenever the department issues a quarantine, it shall be unlawful for any person, while such quarantine exists, to take, drive, or transport any animal into or out of such quarantined premise without permission of the State Veterinarian. Violating a quarantine order is a direct violation of Florida Statute §585.40 and can result in criminal prosecution.

Any owner or custodian of any animal which the department has required to be inspected, tested, treated, or quarantined shall have the right to a judicial declaration as to the validity of the order by bringing an action for declaratory judgment in the circuit court. If the order is affirmed, the cost shall be paid by the person applying for the declaration. Challenging a quarantine order and losing results in the challenger bearing the full cost of that legal proceeding.

Certified Herd Certificate Revocation

Failure on the part of the holder of a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd certificate to comply with these rules and regulations or to maintain adequate surveillance measures and proper testing schedules will result in revocation of such certification. Losing certified herd status can have significant market consequences, restricting where and how you can sell your animals and removing the testing exemptions that certification provides.

Summary of Key Violation Scenarios

If you receive a quarantine order, testing directive, or notice of violation from the FDACS Division of Animal Industry, consult a licensed attorney with experience in Florida agricultural law before taking any action. Contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services directly for certification questions, and review USDA APHIS bovine brucellosis resources for federal-level guidance that applies alongside Florida’s state rules.

For additional Florida animal law topics relevant to livestock and property owners, explore rooster laws in Florida, feral cat laws in Florida, and kennel zoning laws in Florida. If you manage livestock operations that intersect with neighboring property concerns, neighbors’ dog on my property laws in Florida and brucellosis laws in Nevada may also be useful references.