Pullorum-typhoid certificate renewal Texas

[Spruceroost]

Hey everyone. I have been waiting for Texas A&M to contact me because my PT certificate is about to expire. I had someone come out and test last year but with the antigen outage does anyone know of any updates? I planned to become my own tester but no new class offerings or updates on antigen have been posted on their website at all since the start of the year. How is one to renew their certificate with no antigen available? I need the certificate to continue selling my extra chickens locally. Thanks for any help!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

https://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/poultry/04-07_Poultry-FowlRegistration.pdf

 

[ColtHandorf]

So you send that form in and they come out at a later date to actually test and certify you?

I'd looked into this and NPIP certification months ago, but with the shortage of the antigen, decided it was pointless to worry with for the moment.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

No. It allows you to sell without testing.

Testing is not done by the state.

 

[ColtHandorf]

That's interesting. So why would people opt for testing (a much more expensive and currently unattainable option) if a $35 annual fee for backyard breeders with small flocks allows you to bypass the testing? Was this option created because of the antigen shortage? Or has it always existed? I'm assuming it does not take the place of an NPIP certification though and as such, currently NPIP Certified breeders could lose their certification if they bring in birds from a flock with this "license" and shipping out of state would still be in violation of the receiving state's requirements?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

That's interesting. So why would people opt for testing (a much more expensive and currently unattainable option) if a $35 annual fee for backyard breeders with small flocks allows you to bypass the testing? Was this option created because of the antigen shortage? Or has it always existed? I'm assuming it does not take the place of an NPIP certification though and as such, currently NPIP Certified breeders could lose their certification if they bring in birds from a flock with this "license" and shipping out of state would still be in violation of the receiving state's requirements?

It does not, but if you are a bird flipper / if you have a high turn over it would allow you to keep selling legally without testing birds that are on in your possession temporarily or that you sell at an age that is under the PT testing requirement. It would not let you meet the requirement for shipping out of state (not that anyone checks those forms, ime).

 

[Bo Garrett]

Many states are by-passing the testing requirements this year due to the antigen shortage. This is by no means the norm and testing requirements will resume once antigen supplies are restored. I have been testing birds for 20 years and this is the first time I have ever seen this circumstance occur.