Brucellosis Laws in Virginia: What Cattle and Bison Owners Need to Know

Brucellosis is one of the most tightly regulated livestock diseases in the United States, and for good reason. It spreads rapidly through unvaccinated herds, causes widespread reproductive losses, and can infect people who come into direct contact with infected animals or consume unpasteurized dairy products. Virginia has worked for decades to keep this disease out of its livestock population — and a structured set of state and federal rules backs up that effort.

If you raise cattle, bison, or other susceptible livestock in the Commonwealth, understanding Virginia’s brucellosis laws is not optional. From testing and vaccination protocols to movement permits and quarantine procedures, these regulations affect how you buy, sell, and transport your animals. This guide walks you through every layer of the framework so you know exactly what is required of you.

What Is Brucellosis and Why It Is Regulated in Virginia

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. For Virginia livestock producers, those consequences are not abstract. An outbreak can devastate a herd’s reproductive performance and trigger mandatory depopulation.

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. In people, the illness is sometimes called undulant fever and is characterized by recurring fever, joint pain, and prolonged fatigue.

Brucellosis is a contagious, infectious, and communicable disease primarily affecting cattle, bison, and swine. Brucella abortus primarily affects bovine species; however, goats, sheep, and horses are also susceptible. This broad host range is one reason Virginia’s regulatory framework extends beyond cattle alone.

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. Annual losses from lowered milk production, aborted calves and pigs, and reduced breeding efficiency decreased from more than $400 million in 1952 to less than $1 million today. Virginia’s continued participation in this program is what keeps those losses from returning.

Virginia’s brucellosis rules are administered primarily by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) through its Office of Veterinary Services, in coordination with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). You can also compare how neighboring states handle similar regulations by reviewing brucellosis laws in Michigan or brucellosis laws in Nebraska.

Virginia’s Brucellosis Classification Status

Virginia is Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, and Scrapie free. This is the highest classification a state can hold under the federal framework, and it carries significant practical benefits for livestock producers operating within the Commonwealth’s borders.

All 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are brucellosis-free, except for the occasional spillover of cases occurring in livestock near the Greater Yellowstone Area due to bison and elk having the disease. Virginia’s geographic distance from that wildlife reservoir means it faces minimal ongoing risk from that particular source.

Brucellosis classification in the Commonwealth of Virginia is governed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as specified in the recommended “Brucellosis Eradication: Uniform Methods and Rules,” effective October 1, 2003. This federal document sets the minimum standards that Virginia must meet to maintain its Class Free designation.

For initial classification or reclassification, all cattle herds in the state or area must have remained free of Brucella abortus for 12 consecutive months, based on surveillance and epidemiological investigations, and the state or area must have a cattle herd infection rate of 0.0 percent or 0 herds per 1,000.

Virginia has continued to maintain its Brucellosis-Free status by satisfying the USDA’s requirements for surveillance. Staff at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services identify and test individual beef cattle at livestock markets, and six times each year, gather milk samples at dairies for testing. Epidemiological investigations of all animals with a suspicious brucellosis test have found no evidence of the disease in Virginia livestock.

The USDA 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. Virginia’s Class Free designation means your animals face far fewer movement barriers than those originating from lower-classified states.

Vaccination Requirements in Virginia

Because Virginia holds Class Free status, routine mandatory calfhood vaccination is not currently required statewide. States are not required to vaccinate against brucellosis. Each state decides whether vaccination is needed, although APHIS does encourage it in states with affected wildlife populations — including in the Greater Yellowstone Area, where B. abortus is still found in wildlife. Virginia does not share that wildlife exposure risk.

That said, Virginia’s administrative code does establish an official adult vaccination protocol for situations where vaccination is used. Official adult vaccination for brucellosis shall be the injection of a reduced dose of Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine into a female bovine over 12 months of age. The vaccine shall be diluted as approved by the State Veterinarian. The dose shall be given by a veterinarian employed by the state or federal government, or by an accredited veterinarian.

At the time of vaccination, the veterinarian shall apply an official tag in the right ear, and shall also apply to the right ear an official “AV” (adult vaccination) tattoo, preceded by the quarter of the year, and followed by a number corresponding to the last digit of the current year. This identification requirement ensures that vaccinated animals can be distinguished from unvaccinated ones during testing and movement inspections.

The current federally approved vaccine is RB51. There is a vaccine for brucellosis called RB51, licensed for use in nonpregnant female cattle 4 to 12 months of age. The vaccine provides a significant level of protection — about 70 to 80 percent effective. It is also very effective at preventing abortions, which prevents further disease transmission.

RB51 is available only through an accredited veterinarian, state animal health official, or Federal area veterinarian in charge. You cannot obtain or administer this vaccine on your own. It is currently licensed for use in non-pregnant female cattle 4 to 12 months of age. It should not be given to pregnant cattle as it may induce abortion.

Brucellosis-free certified herds of cattle in the Commonwealth of Virginia are governed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as specified in the “Uniform Methods and Rules for Brucellosis Eradication.” Achieving and maintaining certified herd status provides additional movement and marketing flexibility.

Testing Requirements for Cattle and Bison in Virginia

Virginia’s testing framework covers both the official diagnostic methods that may be used and the circumstances that trigger a testing requirement. Understanding both dimensions helps you stay compliant and avoid unexpected delays when selling or moving animals.

Official Tests Recognized by Virginia

The agglutination tests — including the plate agglutination test, tube agglutination test, and card agglutination — on blood serum from samples drawn and labeled so as to identify each animal, and submitted to the laboratories of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by an accredited veterinarian or a veterinarian in the employ of the state or federal government, are hereby adopted as the official tests for the diagnosis of brucellosis in Virginia.

The testing of blood or blood serum for the diagnosis of brucellosis in any other manner is prohibited, unless specifically authorized in writing by the State Veterinarian. This means you cannot substitute an unofficial test or a test from an unapproved laboratory and expect it to satisfy regulatory requirements.

All cattle from which a blood sample has been drawn shall be identified by an official pass tag, unless such cattle carry an official tag of another state, or unless they carry some other form of permanent identification which is recognized by the State Veterinarian.

When Testing Is Required for Intrastate Sales

Exclusive of animals specifically designated for slaughter, and exclusive of those animals originating directly from brucellosis certified-free herds, all adult breeding cattle which are presented for sale or transfer of ownership in Virginia shall be tested and found negative for brucellosis within 30 days prior to such sale or ownership transfer. This shall be applicable to all transactions involving the transfer of adult breeding cattle from one location to another within the Commonwealth of Virginia, whether the animals be conveyed via private or public sale, direct or indirect sale, or in any other manner.

When the State Veterinarian deems it necessary, cattle owners are notified in writing that these requirements should be met. The State Veterinarian may waive this requirement if, in his opinion, brucellosis is no longer a threat to cattle in Virginia.

Dairy Herd Testing

Each herd shall participate in a milk ring testing program meeting the requirements specified in Uniform Methods and Rules; Brucellosis Eradication — effective October 1, 2003 — in a state that conducts a milk ring testing program at least twice per year at approximately equal intervals, and any herd with a positive milk ring test result shall be blood tested within 30 days after the date of the positive milk ring test.

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. This standard applies when a full herd test is triggered by a suspicious result or an epidemiological investigation.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules in Virginia

Movement rules are where Virginia’s brucellosis laws have the most day-to-day impact on producers. The requirements differ based on whether animals are coming into Virginia from another state, moving within Virginia, or leaving Virginia for another state.

Bringing Cattle Into Virginia From Other States

Virginia has specific regulations for animals entering the Commonwealth, whether you are traveling with a pet, selling livestock, or transporting animals for shows or adoption. Before transporting animals into Virginia, you must obtain a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and, in some cases, a permit.

No testing or vaccination is required for cattle from TB and brucellosis-free states. This means that if you are importing cattle from another Class Free state, the brucellosis-specific requirements are streamlined. However, if the origin state does not hold Class Free status, the rules become significantly more demanding.

All sexually intact cattle originating from a region not considered free of brucellosis by the USDA require a permit and an individual brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry into Virginia. An animal allowed entry under a permit will be quarantined on the premises of the consignee until the animal is retested at the consignee’s expense and found negative for brucellosis no fewer than 45 days and no more than 120 days after entry as indicated by the permit.

Two categories of animals are exempt from this requirement:

• Cattle consigned directly from a certified brucellosis-free herd, provided the certification number and date of the last herd test are listed on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.
• Cattle consigned directly to a slaughter establishment.

Moving Animals Out of Virginia

Shipment of Virginia livestock into other states shall be subject to all federal laws and regulations governing the interstate shipment of livestock, and in conformity with the requirements of the state of destination. Before you ship animals to another state, you are responsible for confirming what that state requires — not just what Virginia requires. You can review how destination states like Minnesota or Missouri structure their own entry requirements.

Before testing for interstate shipment, obtain state-specific regulations by contacting the state animal health official’s office in the importing state. Relying on Virginia’s own rules is not sufficient — the destination state sets the standard for what it will accept.

Permits Required for Pending Test Results and Reactors

No cattle which have been bled for brucellosis testing and for which results are pending, and no cattle which are declared to be reactors to such test, shall be removed from the premises where tested without a permit from the State Veterinarian. This applies regardless of whether the movement would be intrastate or interstate.

Cattle from a region considered free of tuberculosis and brucellosis for cattle by the USDA may enter Virginia for the purpose of sale at a marketing facility without a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, provided all cattle offered for sale at the marketing facility — excepting cattle 18 months of age or younger not of a dairy type and intended for feeding purposes — bear official identification upon entry to the marketing facility or have such applied at the marketing facility.

Reporting and Quarantine Requirements in Virginia

Virginia’s reporting and quarantine rules are designed to contain any potential brucellosis exposure as quickly as possible. If you own cattle or bison, you need to understand what triggers a quarantine, what identification is required, and who must be notified.

Reactor Identification and Immediate Reporting

Cattle declared to be reactors to the official test for brucellosis, or cattle declared to be reactors to any other tests specifically authorized by the State Veterinarian, shall be effectively identified as such. Such cattle shall be immediately tagged with a metal tag in the left ear, bearing the inscription Virginia B.D. or U.S.B.D., quarantined, and promptly reported to the State Veterinarian.

Before such animals are permitted to leave the premises where tested, they shall be branded with the letter “B” not less than two inches high on the left jaw. This branding requirement ensures that reactor animals cannot be moved or sold without their status being immediately visible to any inspector or buyer.

Reports may be filed electronically in a manner specified by VDACS, including, but not limited to, electronic mail or by completing any forms provided online by VDACS. Electronic filing options make timely reporting more accessible, but the reporting obligation itself is not optional.

How Quarantine Works in Practice

Condemned livestock, diseased livestock, or brucellosis reactors shall be penned separately from other livestock. Such pens shall be plainly marked “For Slaughter Only.” This physical separation requirement applies at livestock markets as well as on private premises.

Brucellosis infected herds may be depopulated where approved by the State Veterinarian provided funds are available to compensate the owner; or, the owner may follow a test and slaughter program as outlined in the recommended “Brucellosis Eradication: Uniform Methods and Rules.” Depopulation is a last resort, but it remains a tool available to regulators when a herd is confirmed infected.

If infection is suspected or confirmed, regulatory officials will contact you, the owner, or both, to develop a herd plan. Cooperating fully with this process is not just good practice — it is a legal obligation under Virginia and federal law.

Human Health Reporting

If brucellosis is suspected in a human patient, the healthcare provider should immediately report the case to the local health department per Virginia’s disease reporting regulations. The local health department will discuss options for public health testing. This parallel human reporting system reflects the zoonotic nature of brucellosis and the shared responsibility between animal and human health authorities.

Virginia livestock owners with concerns about potential human exposure should contact both VDACS and the Virginia Department of Health promptly. For context on how Virginia handles other animal-related regulations, see the state’s rules on goat ownership and hunting, which intersect with wildlife disease management considerations.

Penalties for Brucellosis Violations in Virginia

Virginia takes brucellosis compliance seriously, and the penalty framework reflects that. Violations can result in loss of dealer registration, civil and criminal liability, and mandatory corrective action. The consequences scale with the nature and severity of the violation.

Grounds for Dealer Registration Denial, Suspension, or Cancellation

Under Virginia’s cattle dealer regulations, a dealer’s registration may be denied, suspended, or cancelled if the dealer has:

• Violated state or federal laws or regulations governing the interstate or intrastate movement, shipment, or transportation of cattle.
• Sold cattle for dairy or breeding purposes which he knew were affected with brucellosis or has made false or misleading statements as to the brucellosis status or official test results of the cattle.
• Removed or altered the identification of any cattle which would prevent the identification of such cattle to the herd of origin.
• Failed to carry out the requirements of this chapter.
• Made false or misleading entries in the records that are required by this chapter.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the department to report for prosecution or for the denial, suspension, or cancellation of registration, minor violations of this chapter whenever it believes that the public interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice of warning. This provision gives VDACS some discretion for first-time or minor infractions, but it does not eliminate the risk of formal action.

Statutory Authority and Broader Enforcement

Virginia’s brucellosis regulations are grounded in statutory authority under Sections 3.2-6001, 3.2-6002, and 3.2-6004 of the Code of Virginia. These statutes empower VDACS to promulgate and enforce rules for the prevention, control, and eradication of brucellosis in cattle and other susceptible species. Violations of these statutes can expose producers to civil penalties in addition to the regulatory consequences described above.

At the federal level, disease control and eradication measures include quarantines to stop the movement of possibly infected or exposed animals, testing and examination to detect infection, destruction of infected animals to prevent further disease spread, and cleaning and disinfection of contaminated premises. Federal enforcement actions can run parallel to state penalties, particularly when interstate movement violations are involved.

Comparison of Key Violation Categories

If you operate as a cattle dealer in Virginia, maintaining accurate records is not just a best practice — it is a legal requirement. A cattle dealer means any person, not a market agency, who routinely engages in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, or bartering cattle in the Commonwealth of Virginia for his own account or that of another person. This definition is broad enough to capture many common commercial arrangements.

For questions about how Virginia’s animal regulations interact with other livestock and property rules, you may also find it useful to review the state’s dog bite laws, leash laws, and roadkill laws, all of which reflect how Virginia balances animal welfare and public safety. Producers near the West Virginia border may also want to familiarize themselves with brucellosis laws in Nevada and neighboring state rules such as goat ownership laws in West Virginia when planning cross-border operations.

Virginia’s brucellosis regulatory framework is comprehensive, but it is also navigable. By working with an accredited veterinarian, maintaining accurate records, obtaining required permits before moving animals, and reporting any suspicious test results promptly to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, you protect your herd, your business, and the Class Free status that benefits every livestock producer in the Commonwealth.