Rule 40-13-15-.06 - Feral Hog Facility Requirements(1) A license is required for the operation of a Feral Hog Facility which holds live feral hogs.(2) Premises registration is required for all physical locations where live feral hogs are held. A Premises Identification number evidencing said registration may be obtained by contacting the Department's Livestock/Poultry Program in Atlanta, Georgia during normal business hours, or visiting the Georgia Department of Agriculture's website at agr.georgia.gov.(3) Any operator of a licensed Feral Hog Facility who intends to personally transport live feral hogs is required to obtain and maintain a Feral Hog Transport Permit.(4) Live feral hogs may only be transported by individuals holding a valid Feral Hog Transport Permit.(5) Live feral hogs held at a licensed Feral Hog Facility may only be transported to approved slaughter facilities, other licensed Feral Hog Facilities, or for immediate personal consumption unless a special written exemption is obtained from the State Veterinarian prior to transport.(6) All feral hogs not being transported to an approved slaughter facility, licensed Feral Hog Facility, or for immediate personal consumption shall be destroyed prior to leaving the licensed Feral Hog Facility.(7) All live feral hogs shall have Official Identification applied within 48 hours of arrival at an approved destination unless such live feral hog is slaughtered within 48 hours of arrival.(8) All test eligible live feral hogs held in a Feral Hog Facility must test negative to an official brucellosis test and an official pseudorabies test within 14 days of arrival at the facility and be retested in 30 days. Following the second test, all live feral hogs at the facility must be tested every 180 days thereafter. a. Upon notification of positive test results for Brucellosis or Pseudorabies, feral hogs shall be depopulated within twenty-four (24) hours or officially permitted by the Department to be transported directly to an approved slaughter facility within 48 hours.b. Following depopulation, all remaining live feral hogs shall be quarantined and retested no sooner than thirty (30) days following the initial positive test. Testing shall be repeated at 30-day intervals until two (2) negative consecutive complete herd tests are obtained.c. Each new live feral hog added to a licensed Feral Hog Facility, whether intentionally or accidentally, must be held separately, have Official Identification applied, and be tested for Brucellosis and Pseudorabies, in accordance with these rules, prior to introduction into the existing facility population.d. Brucellosis and Pseudorabies testing records shall be maintained for two (2) years from the testing date. Testing records shall be made available to the Georgia Department of Agriculture and/or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources upon request.e. All such testing shall be performed by a veterinarian licensed under the Georgia Veterinary Practice Act and at the owner's expense.(9) The Commissioner shall require a Licensed Feral Hog Facility to observe and maintain any and all health and/or sanitization practices deemed necessary and appropriate to prevent and/or control the spread of contagious or infectious livestock diseases.(10) Licensed Feral Hog Facilities shall be fenced with heavy duty woven wire at not less than forty-seven inches (47") minimum height from ground level, with a high tensile electric wire at the top and bottom of the fence, inside of the woven wire, on six-inch (6") stand-offs. A separate charger must be used for each electric wire. Said fence shall be clear of obstructions at all times in order to allow inspection on a regular basis.(11) All live feral hogs shall be maintained in secure escape-proof and entry-proof pens. Feral hog holding pens shall be designed to ensure complete segregation of the existing population and new additions undergoing testing requirements.(12) It shall be unlawful for any person to release or cause to be released from captivity any live feral hog, or possess a live feral hog in such manner so as to cause, accidentally or intentionally, its release or escape from captivity.(13) Feral hogs held at a licensed Feral Hog Facility shall not be permitted to breed. All boars shall be castrated or maintained in separate confinement from female hogs until castration.(14) All progeny of female swine bred prior to introduction to the facility shall be held and treated in accordance with these rules.(15) Information relating to Official Identification can be obtained by contacting the Department's Livestock/Poultry Program in Atlanta, Georgia during normal business hours, or visiting the Georgia Department of Agriculture's website at agr.georgia.gov.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-13-15-.06
O.C.G.A. § 2-7-200et. seq.
Original Rule entitled "Feral Hog Facility Requirements" adopted. F. Sep. 17, 2018; eff. Jan. 1, 2019, as specified by the Agency.