Bovine Tuberculosis FAQ
A new booklet has been published which covers the questions below for Scottish, English and Welsh legislation. It is available in PDF format at the link: Tb in cattle - Reducing the risk.
- What do I need to do?
- What evidence do I need to keep?
- What checks will be made to ensure moved cattle are being pre and post-movement tested?
- How will this affect the moving of animals to shows and markets?
- What happens if I buy animals from a farm in Scotland that have recently come from England and have not yet been post-movement tested?
- Do animals that will be going for slaughter within 120 days of arrival have to be pre and post-movement tested?
- Can a routine herd test, count as a pre or post movement test?
- How will markets be affected?
- Can I request my whole herd is tested as part of my routine herd test?
- Why should I pay the local veterinary inspector (LVI) for the pre-movement test?
- How much will my vet charge?
- What about lay testers?
- What's my parish interval?
- Can I find out about out about other parishes?
1. What do I need to do?
From 23rd September 2005, there will be a legal requirement for cattle over 42 days old that move from 1 or 2 yearly testing parishes into a Scottish herd to have Pre & Post movement tests. The Pre-movement test must occur within 60 days prior to entering a Scottish herd, and the post-movement test between 60-120 days of their arrival. All pre and post movement tests must be arranged and paid for by the herd owner.
Scottish herd owners who are subject to 1 or 2 yearly testing that move cattle into England and Wales should make themselves aware of the pre-movement testing requirements placed on the receiving herds. (See the PDF Booklet, or Defra's Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/index.htm)
Top of Page
2. What evidence do I need to keep?
Herd owners should always be given a certified copy of the test results by the veterinary surgeon following any TB testing. Always ask vendors for copies of these test results.
Top of Page
3. What checks will be made to ensure moved cattle are being pre and post-movement tested?
The State Veterinary Service will monitor the movements of animals and compliance with the testing requirements. Random spot checks will be carried out and where non-compliance is discovered whole herd movement restrictions will be imposed.
Top of Page
4. How will this affect the moving of animals to shows and markets?
Cattle moving to shows/exhibitions will not be affected if they return from the show/exhibition to the farm of origin. Cattle going to a market from a high incidence area should be pre-movement tested if there is a possibility that they will then move to a holding in Scotland. If in doubt about the origin of the cattle you should make enquiries at the point of sale.
Top of Page
5. What happens if I buy animals from a farm in Scotland that have recently come from England and have not yet been post-movement tested?
You become responsible for the post movement testing of the cattle within the period of 60-120 days after the arrival at the first farm in Scotland. The vendor should inform you at the point of sale. If in doubt you should make enquiries of the vendor.
Top of Page
6. Do animals that will be going for slaughter within 120 days of arrival have to be pre and post-movement tested?
Cattle moving directly to slaughter in Scotland will not require to be tested. If they are moved for further fattening before slaughter then they will become subject to the pre-movement test and post-movement test if slaughter is after 120 days of arrival in Scotland.
Top of Page
7. Can a routine herd test, count as a pre or post movement test?
Yes, so long as it is carried out within the permitted time. i.e. within 60 days pre, or 60-120 post, movement.
Top of Page
8. How will markets be affected?
The new controls will have no direct impact on market procedures although through time they may adapt their practice to identify those animals going through the ring which have been pre movement tested prior to movement. Markets may chose to gather and distribute copies of TB test charts to enable herd owners to establish when cattle were last tested.
Top of Page
9. Can I request my whole herd is tested as part of my routine herd test?
Yes. In some 2 yearly tested herds the adult breeding stock is often the only cattle tested. If you plan to move younger animals following your routine herd test, you can request them to be tested.
Top of Page
10. Why should I pay the local veterinary inspector (LVI) for the pre-movement test?
Cost sharing on animal health issues between government and industry is a key part of the governments Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. The government cover the costs of national routine herd testing and the tuberculin that is used during all TB tests. Herd owners are now expected to cover the costs of the LVIs time to carry out pre or post movement tests.
Top of Page
11. How much will my vet charge?
As with all other types of veterinary work, your vet will want to charge you for the time it takes to carry out the test.
Top of Page
12. What about lay testers?
The government recognises that lay testers could help reduce the burden of TB testing on LVI practices and is running a pilot project to establish the feasibility of using non-veterinarians in the TB testing process.
Top of Page
13. What's my parish interval?
Your parish TB testing interval will appear in your annual testing interval statement.
Top of Page
14. Can I find out about out about other parishes?
Yes. You will be able to establish which parts of the country are affected by different testing intervals through the SVS website, which has a hot spot map and a list of current hot spot parishes by CP number. If you would like to confirm the parish testing interval in another parish, this information can be found on the Animal Health section of the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk
Top of Page