(a) All imported female cattle shall be from (1) certified herds, (2) negative herds in a modified certified area or (3) herds under state-federal supervision for the control of brucellosis that are negative to official blood tests within ninety days of the exportation of the individual animals. Nonvaccinated female animals over six months of age and bulls over six months of age and official vaccinates over eighteen months of age at the time of importation shall be negative to such tests as established by regulation, within thirty days before importation. Within thirty days after entering the state all such cattle shall be retested on the premises to which originally consigned by such test established by regulation, by a veterinarian licensed in this state and approved by the commissioner, by a veterinarian employed by the federal government or by a veterinarian or livestock inspector employed by the Department of Agriculture. Animals vaccinated when more than the maximum eligible age as established by the commissioner for imported cattle are not eligible for entry. If the reaction of any animal to such test is positive, it shall be branded and tagged and sold for slaughter; if the animal is a purebred, it may be reshipped under permit to the state of origin under federal regulations and quarantined; if suspicious, it may be held for two more tests at intervals of sixty days; if then not negative, it shall be slaughtered or returned to the state of origin under special permit subject to state and federal regulations. All retests made under this section shall be at the owner’s expense. Permits for the importation of registered cattle or cattle eligible for registration, which have not been calfhood vaccinated but which are from brucellosis-free countries, states or counties, may be issued at the discretion of the Commissioner of Agriculture. Permits for the importation of cattle for immediate slaughter may be issued at the discretion of the commissioner.

(b) Female cattle imported from states that are not certified as free of brucellosis for at least one year shall be officially calfhood-vaccinated prior to importation. Female cattle which are not calfhood-vaccinated but are imported from a state that is certified as free of brucellosis and have been held in such state for at least thirty days may enter this state provided the owner of such cattle presents (1) a permit and health papers showing such cattle have passed a negative blood test for brucellosis within thirty days prior to entry if such cattle are six months of age or older or (2) documentation to show that such cattle originate from a brucellosis-free herd if such cattle are under six months of age.