Dealing with TB in your herd: what to do if bovine TB is detected in your herd in Wales

Question 1

Your herd’s TB status

Accepted Answer

All herds are classed as officially TB free (OTF) unless any of the following apply:

the herd’s status is regarded as unknown because of overdue TB testing
there’s suspicion that the herd might be infected with TB, for example from a slaughterhouse inspection
the herd has a TB breakdown, meaning one or more of your animals fails a TB test (these animals are called reactors)

If TB testing becomes overdue

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will put your herd under movement restrictions and its OTF status will be suspended. The herd’s status will become officially TB free suspended (OTFS). Your herd will get its OTF status back if it gets negative test results.

If TB is suspected in your herd

Your herd will be put under movement restrictions and its OTF status will be suspended making it OTFS.

Your herd may need a clear skin test where APHA suspects there is a high risk of infection in the herd.

If the suspected animal has a positive PCR or culture result, or any TB skin test reactor is found, your herd will become a breakdown herd.

If your herd has a TB breakdown

Your herd will be put under restrictions and you’ll have to follow the rules for breakdown herds.

Herds in Wales with a new TB breakdown will have their OTF status withdrawn.

Their status will become officially TB free withdrawn (OTFW) if:

any TB skin test reactor is found
an inconclusive reactor is retested and has a further inconclusive result
an animal has a positive TB blood test result
samples from an animal suspected of having TB at a slaughterhouse inspection give a positive PCR, or culture, result

Question 2

When your herd’s OTF status is suspended or withdrawn

Accepted Answer

Officially TB free status suspended (OTFS)

If TB is suspected, your herd’s OTF status will be suspended and your herd and all associated permanent and temporary county parish holdings (CPHs) will be placed under movement restrictions.

TB is suspected in your herd when any of the following apply:

an animal from your herd has suspected TB lesions when inspected at a slaughterhouse
an animal from your herd has suspected TB at a knacker’s yard or hunt kennel
one or more inconclusive reactors (IRs) have been found in your herd
clinical signs which can be signs of TB are seen in a live animal – these include weakness, lethargy, difficulty breathing, chronic coughing and emaciation
your herd’s test is overdue, or some or all of your cattle cannot be tested because they’re wild and unmanageable – in these cases the possibility that an animal in your herd is infected with TB cannot be ruled out

APHA will notify you of the post-mortem results and your herd’s TB status.

Officially TB free status withdrawn (OTFW)

Your herd’s OTF status will be withdrawn if your herd has a TB breakdown and one or more of the following apply:

one or more animals have failed the tuberculin skin test and are classified as reactors
an animal with an inconclusive reactor (IR) result retests with a further inconclusive result
one or more inconclusive reactors (to the tuberculin skin test) test positive to a statutory TB blood test
resolved IRs moved illegally from England into Wales test positive to a TB blood test
Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis), the bacteria that causes bovine TB, is detected by PCR, or culture, from post-mortem samples taken from an animal in your herd
there are factors that indicate a higher risk of infection

If your herd’s TB free status is withdrawn

Your herd and all associated permanent and temporary CPHs will be placed under movement restrictions.

Previous TB test results may also be reviewed.

TB test results can be read 2 different ways, using either standard interpretation or severe interpretation.

When routine tests are done in an OTF herd, the results are usually read at standard interpretation. If reactors are identified the tester will reinterpret the test at severe interpretation.

If your herd’s OTF status is withdrawn, the results from the last tuberculin skin test or part test may be reviewed at severe interpretation. This is done when there’s a high risk of infection remaining in your herd. The reviewed test results might mean more animals are classed as reactors or inconclusive reactors.

In certain areas of Wales, severe interpretation is also used in contiguous tests and in the 6-month and 12-month tests done after a TB breakdown ends.

You’ll get a letter from APHA which will tell you:

the results of the post-mortem examination of your reactors
any assessment of your herd
the TB status of your herd

If your herd is OTFW, you’ll need at least 2 consecutive short interval tests with negative results for the restrictions to be lifted and for your herd to regain its OTF status.

Other actions will also need to be taken, including:

any animals that moved from your herd during the infective period will be traced and tested if appropriate
herds in the locality will be investigated and tested if appropriate (contiguous testing)
other animals which are at higher risk of infection may be considered for slaughter as direct contacts (DCs)
exceptionally, slaughter of the animals remaining in the group or herd may be considered if infection is severe and extensive
supplementary blood tests might be considered for animals in your herd

APHA will inform your local health and environmental health authorities of the results of the post-mortem examinations or the positive PCR, or culture, result.

What you must do

You must comply with the herd movement restrictions. This means you must not move cattle either on to or off the restricted premises, unless APHA gives you a licence.

If you produce milk, you must:

inform your milk buyer as soon as the restrictions are imposed, because milk from a herd under TB restrictions must not be used for human consumption unless it is heat treated
ensure milk from any reactor cow does not enter the human food chain – milk can be disposed of through the slurry system but you must comply with the regulations for waste management
not sell unpasteurised milk to consumers or for use in manufacturing unpasteurised milk products

How the disease investigation will be carried out

A vet from APHA will contact you to carry out a disease investigation in the early stages of the breakdown.

They’ll need information about your farm and how it’s managed in order to produce a disease report about your herd. You’ll need to have:

movement records, going back at least 2 months, for movements not recorded on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS), such as those to temporary grazing or housing
any local information that may help to establish the source of the disease, and where or how it could spread

The APHA vet will also:

assess possible sources of infection
assess and advise on permitted movements to help you to manage your business while under restriction
establish the boundaries of your holding and any possible contact with other herds
work out if there are other TB susceptible species on the farm
explain the testing regime and how it might vary depending on the outcome of the post-mortem examinations and laboratory tests on reactors

The vet will give you advice to reduce the risk of the disease spreading and how to eradicate it from your herd so the restrictions can be lifted.

You’ll get advice on:

public health issues and implications of the incident
the extent of the restrictions on your premises and whether other premises that you farm are under separate movement restrictions
how to reduce the effects of the restrictions on your business
how to manage the risk of infection spreading in your herd and on to other herds
how to restrict wildlife access to your premises
licences that can be issued or any additional conditions that may be necessary to allow you to effectively manage your livestock and your business during the restriction period
supplementary blood tests

Question 3

What to do with animals that test TB positive

Accepted Answer

A reactor animal is one that has failed a bovine TB test. This may be:

a skin test
an interferon gamma TB test
any other relevant TB test such as the IDEXX antibody test

Reactors are also animals that have:

2 consecutive skin tests with an inconclusive result at standard interpretation
3 consecutive skin tests with an inconclusive result when one or more of those results is at severe interpretation

Any reactors identified through a TB skin test will be tagged immediately using a DNA ear tag to ensure that the correct animal is slaughtered.

You must isolate a reactor animal from the rest of your herd immediately, and until they are sent for slaughter. APHA will arrange their removal as quickly as possible to help control the disease, reduce the risk of spread within the herd, and to help you get back your herd’s OTF status.

What you must do with milk from reactor cows

Milk from a reactor cow must not be used for human consumption. You must not add it to your bulk tank.

You should not feed untreated milk to calves or other mammals on the premises as it could infect them and prolong the disease in your herd.

Milk from reactor cows can be disposed of in your slurry system but land spreading must have a waste exemption. You can get more information about land spreading of slurry from Natural Resources Wales.

How animals are valued, and your compensation

Animals classified as reactors will be compulsorily removed from your herd and slaughtered.

The reactor cattle will be valued before slaughter and you’ll get appropriate compensation. You must make sure that the identification documents and tagging requirements for the animals are correct and up to date.

Compensation for animals in Wales is worked out through a valuation carried out by an appointed valuer, selected by APHA.

How animals are valued

You’ll need to provide any relevant information at the time of valuation, for example milk yield records and pedigree certificates.

To value an animal as in calf, you will need to show the veterinary pregnancy diagnosis certificate to the valuer when they visit. The date of examination for pregnancy must be within 90 days prior to the date of valuation. It must be carried out through an internal manual examination or by ultrasound diagnosis.

The Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 (as amended) require cattle to be identified by ear tags and a passport. If your cattle do not have ear tags or a passport, or the passport is not valid, the market value of the animals will be zero, because they cannot be traded in the open market.

The valuations are final and binding for all parties, which means that there is no negotiation of the value given by the valuer.

APHA will arrange for the Welsh Government to pay for the valuation.

How your compensation is calculated

Compensation is only payable for animals that comply with the requirements of the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 (as amended).

You will not get compensation for an animal due to be slaughtered that dies on your holding before slaughter, regardless of the cause of death.

The maximum amount that will be paid for a single animal is £5,000.

The calculation used to work out the compensation paid under the Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2010 (as amended) may be reduced where:

there is a breach of a keeper’s obligations in relation to TB testing, animal isolation, or prohibition of movement requirements
there is a failure to TB test on time
there is a failure to comply with a Veterinary Requirements Notice or a Biosecurity Requirements Notice
an animal is slaughtered because it is wild or unmanageable and it cannot be tested
there is a failure of an operator to comply with the conditions of an approved finishing unit (AFU)
there is a delay by the keeper in allowing the removal of an animal for slaughter, unless the delay is agreed by APHA, for example, an agreed delay to allow an animal to calve
a keeper vaccinates, treats a bovine animal for TB, or performs a test for TB without the written consent of the Welsh Minister

If there’s a breach of the keeper’s obligations, the level of reduction will depend on how severe the breach is. This could mean you only get 5% of the market value.

A 50% compensation reduction will apply to all cattle moved on to a TB restricted holding under licence which then become reactors in a TB breakdown. An exception may be if there is movement between premises under separate TB restrictions within the same CPH. You’ll be told if this applies to your herd.

A 50% compensation reduction may also apply to cattle moved within a TB-restricted holding which is subject to enhanced TB control measures and has separate TB2 notices notices (prohibiting the movement of bovine animals) applied to land parcels within the holding.

If the amount of compensation is reduced, your payments may be delayed because APHA will wait for the salvage figures from the abattoir before referring the case to the Welsh Government for payment. The salvage value will be the minimum amount of compensation paid to you, even if it exceeds the reduced compensation.

If a delayed removal is agreed by APHA, compensation will not be paid for other animals already slaughtered from the same test until the delayed removal is complete.

Removal and slaughter of reactor animals

The removal, transport and slaughter of reactor cattle is usually arranged by APHA, but you can arrange this privately if you want to.

In exceptional cases, reactors may be slaughtered on your premises and the carcass removed for post-mortem examination and disposal. This will be arranged by APHA if your animal is unfit to travel or unfit for human consumption, for example due to an extended drug withdrawal period.

If the end of the drug withdrawal period is imminent, removal of the reactor will be delayed whenever possible to allow these animals to be removed to an abattoir. A short delay in removal may also be allowed to correct ear tag or passport irregularities.

Removal for slaughter by APHA

APHA will be responsible for the arrangement and cost of:

removal of the reactor to a slaughterhouse
subsequent slaughter
disposal of the carcass if it is unfit for human consumption

A contracted haulier will contact you to agree a date to remove your animal or animals. You should assist with the loading of your animal.

You must ensure that:

the correct documentation is sent with your animals to the slaughterhouse and that the ear tag numbers and documents match
the correct animals are presented for collection for slaughter – APHA will not pay compensation if the wrong animal is presented for slaughter, and failure to present a reactor for slaughter could be a breach of the TB Order
your animals are fit for transport – you remain responsible for the welfare of the affected animals prior to their removal to slaughter, in particular ensuring that they are fit to be transported in accordance with The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Wales) Order 2007
your cattle are of an acceptable state of cleanliness for hygienic slaughter in accordance with The Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 (as amended) – the haulier will not load dirty animals, and a delay in the removal process while you arrange for them to be cleaned or clipped could result in reduction of compensation

The legislation is available on legislation.gov.uk.

You can order copies of the legislation from The Stationery Office Ltd.

Removal for slaughter through private arrangements

If you arrange it privately, you’ll need to:

tell APHA which slaughterhouse you are sending the animal to and on what date – they will let you know if this is a slaughterhouse that regularly takes reactor animals under contract; for non-contracted slaughterhouses only, you must confirm with the slaughterhouse and the local Food Standards Agency team that the private slaughter can proceed for the required number of reactors, and date of slaughter
ensure you get the relevant forms from APHA, complete them as necessary and send them with the animals to the slaughterhouse
check that the ear tag numbers on the documents match the numbers on the animals’ official ear tags
ensure that the relevant paperwork and forms accompany the animals to the slaughterhouse

If you choose to have your animals slaughtered privately, The Welsh Government or APHA will not pay you compensation but the slaughterhouse may pay salvage directly to you.

The reactor animals must be slaughtered within 10 working days of being identified, unless APHA has agreed to a delay in removal if an animal:

has recently calved
is due to calve
is in a drug withdrawal period
there are easily rectified identification or passport issues

If the 10-working day target date or the agreed delayed removal date cannot be met, APHA may take over the removal, which could result in reduced compensation.

If the animal carcass is condemned (not fit for human consumption) or partially condemned, because of TB or for another reason, the salvage amount paid by the slaughterhouse may be reduced or no payment made. APHA is not responsible for compensating for any reduction in payment, or for any costs associated with the disposal of the carcass.

Post-mortem examination of reactor cattle

Reactor cattle carcasses are examined, where appropriate, for evidence of infection and, where necessary, to collect tissue samples for laboratory diagnosis.

The nature and extent of the lesions in the carcass may indicate whether the disease was in an early or advanced stage or how the animal was infected.

Samples may not be collected from every animal slaughtered. The laboratory will PCR test samples collected from the reactor to attempt to detect bovine TB.

This will take at least 3 weeks and the results help APHA understand the nature of the outbreak. APHA will write to you with the results of any post-mortem examination and any samples sent for PCR testing.

If lesions are detected at post-mortem examination or if PCR, or culture, results are positive for M. bovis, the results from the last tuberculin skin test or part test will be reviewed using severe interpretation. This severe interpretation is done to reduce the risk of infection remaining in your herd. The review may mean more animals are classed as reactors.

Further testing of your herd is necessary to minimise the risk of infection remaining on your farm.

After the compulsory removal of a reactor, inconclusive reactor or direct contact by APHA, your herd will need to complete 2 clear consecutive tests.

The interpretation of these tests will depend on the risk of infection in your herd:

TB skin tests are usually carried out at standard interpretation
where there is a higher risk of infection in herds that are OTFW, severe interpretation is used to increase the sensitivity of the test and decrease the possibility of leaving infected cattle in your herd

A post-mortem examination is not a perfect technique for identifying bovine TB. Failure to detect TB lesions or identify M. bovis by PCR, or culture, does not mean the animal was not infected with bovine TB.

In the early stages of the disease, it is often not possible to:

see lesions with the naked eye
detect it in samples (due to the nature of the organism)

The primary purpose of post-mortem examination and PCR, or culture, of test reactors is to identify the severity and strain of infection, rather than to establish the presence or absence of disease. This is useful to support disease control efforts.

Question 4

If you have inconclusive reactors (IRs)

Accepted Answer

Inconclusive reactors (IRs) are important because the disease status of the animal is uncertain.

Any animal classed as an IR must be kept on the farm and isolated from the rest of the herd to reduce the risk of spreading TB to other cattle. Your herd will automatically be subject to movement restrictions if it is not already restricted.

APHA will serve an isolation notice confirming that you have an IR, with instructions on what you need to do. What happens next mainly depends on whether or not reactors have been found in the same herd.

IRs identified in non-breakdown herds

When an IR is identified, the whole herd will be put under movement restrictions. These restrictions will stay in place until the IR is retested with negative results.

IRs are tested again after 60 days.

If the IR tests clear (gets a negative result), it can rejoin the herd and the movement restrictions will be lifted.

If the IR fails the retest (gets a positive result) and therefore becomes a reactor, it will be removed and slaughtered. The herd becomes a breakdown herd.

If it is still an IR, with an IR result at standard interpretation at 2 consecutive tests, it will be classed as a reactor and removed and slaughtered in the same way as a test reactor. The herd becomes a breakdown herd.

In certain areas of Wales, severe interpretation is used in contiguous tests and in the 6-month and 12-month tests done after a breakdown ends.

If IRs are identified at one of these tests, but no reactors, the IRs will have a supplementary interferon gamma TB blood test.

Any animal with a positive result will become a reactor and start a TB breakdown.

If all the IRs give negative results to the interferon gamma test, the test will be reinterpreted to standard interpretation. Any IRs remaining at standard interpretation will have a TB skin retest.

The herd’s status will become OTFW if:

an IR has a positive result to the blood test
an IR that gave a negative blood test result has a further TB skin test and is either a reactor or an IR at this retest

While a herd is restricted pending the retest of one or more IRs, all associated permanent and temporary CPHs will be put under separate movement restrictions.

When under movement restrictions, you will need a licence from APHA to move cattle on, off or between associated CPHs. Cattle moving between associated CPHs must have had a clear skin test in the previous 30 days unless they are under 42 days old.

IRs identified in breakdown herds

Whole herd movement restrictions apply and the IRs will be managed within the ongoing testing regime for the breakdown.

IRs are usually tested again after 60 days, as part of the short interval test, with the rest of the herd:

if the IR tests clear, it can rejoin the herd
if it’s still an IR, it will be classed as a reactor and removed and slaughtered in the same way as a test reactor. This happens when an animal has an IR result at standard interpretation at 2 consecutive tests
if the animal has been identified as an IR at 2 consecutive tests, but one or both of these results was at severe interpretation only, the animal will need to have an interferon gamma test (and on certain occasions an IDEXX antibody test). If it’s negative to these TB blood tests, it has a third and final skin test. If the animal becomes an IR for a third time it will be removed as a reactor

If the test at which the IR was identified would have allowed the herd to regain its OTF status, the IR will be tested at an individual IR retest after 60 days:

if the IR tests clear it can rejoin the herd and movement restrictions will be lifted from the herd allowing it to become OTF
if it is still an IR, it will be eligible for interferon gamma testing or be classed as a reactor, depending on the interpretation under which it was disclosed as an IR. If classed as a reactor, it will be removed and slaughtered in the same way as a test reactor and the herd will continue with a breakdown testing regime

In herds where a breakdown lasts more than 18 months, and in herds under enhanced TB control measures:

standard interpretation IRs are removed
severe interpretation IRs have further interferon gamma and IDEXX antibody tests

In some areas of Wales, IRs at the final test before lifting restrictions have an interferon gamma test.

Private slaughter of IRs

You can have an IR privately slaughtered at your own expense. You must inform APHA with at least 5 working days’ notice. They will issue a licence allowing the IR to travel to a slaughterhouse of your choice. You must check that the slaughterhouse accepts IRs.

APHA will arrange for the IR to be examined in the slaughterhouse for any evidence of bovine TB and may request tissue samples for PCR testing. Compensation will not be paid for any IR that is privately slaughtered. This option, rather than waiting for the outcome of the next TB test, could lead to additional testing or longer restrictions on your herd, or both. Discuss the possible consequences with APHA.

If an IR dies on the farm or has to be put down for welfare reasons, you’ll also need to inform APHA immediately as in most cases a post-mortem examination will be needed. You will not receive compensation for IRs that die on your farm before slaughter.

Question 5

Biosecurity measures you must follow

Accepted Answer

Cleansing and disinfection

Cleansing and disinfection reduces the risk of infection spreading to cattle or to other susceptible animals on your farm.

Bovine TB can survive in the environment for a long time, under certain conditions. The length of time can vary considerably and the conditions affecting this include things like temperature and moisture.

You’ll get a notice from APHA at the beginning of your breakdown telling you how you need to thoroughly clean and disinfect all buildings, equipment and utensils where reactor cattle have been kept. Read the BT05 notice.

It’s also good practice to consider implementing additional biosecurity measures to help stop the risk of further spread. Feed stores and feeding areas should be protected from possible contamination by infected animals and wildlife such as badgers and deer. Ensure perimeter fencing, including gateways, is adequate to prevent nose-to-nose contact with other animals.

The disinfectant used for the cleansing and disinfection must be approved by the Welsh Government for use against bovine TB and must be used at the appropriate concentration. Check the list of Defra-approved disinfectants. It’s important to cleanse and disinfect any fittings or equipment that may have come into contact with sputum, faeces or milk from TB reactors.

You will need to sign the declaration on the cleansing and disinfection notice from APHA once the required cleansing and disinfection has been completed after removal of the reactors. TB restrictions cannot be lifted at the end of the breakdown until APHA has received the declaration from you.

There will be other circumstances when this notice is served, for example extensive infection, depopulation or vacation of a premises where reactors (or other cattle from an ongoing breakdown) have been located.

If you are vacating the premises and other unrestricted cattle are to move to the premises, you will need to carry out full cleansing and disinfection of all the buildings used by any of your cattle and to leave the grazing ground empty of cattle for a period of at least 60 days, and for longer over the winter.

Restrictions will normally remain in place until 60 days after the last of your cattle have vacated the premises and cleansing and disinfection is completed.

Disposal of slurry and manure

You can use your own slurry or manure on your land while TB restrictions are in place, but you should consider the risk of spreading the disease to other stock or wildlife.

It’s best practice to spray bedding and manure from premises under restriction with an approved disinfectant. They should then be removed and stacked for at least 3 weeks prior to being spread. Slurry ideally should be stored for a minimum of 6 months before being spread.

Care should be taken to prevent livestock coming into contact with the stacked bedding and manure.

If possible, manure and slurry from premises under TB restrictions should be disposed of on land that is to be used for arable cropping. However, if manure or slurry has to be disposed of where cattle graze, it should be spread at least 60 days before any cattle are allowed access to it. The methods you use for spreading potentially infected manure and slurry should avoid airborne contamination.

Question 6

Testing during a breakdown

Accepted Answer

Short interval tests

Herds are tested about every 60 to 90 days throughout a breakdown. These tests are known as short interval tests. Short interval tests usually include all animals in the herd that are aged 42 days old or over when the test is started. The 60-day period is from the date the last reactor left your herd.

If delayed removal of a reactor has been agreed by APHA, the 60-day interval will start when the delayed removal has taken place. If this would result in a prolonged interval between consecutive herd skin tests, additional check testing may be required.

When the OTF status of your herd is withdrawn (OTFW):

you’ll need 2 clear consecutive short interval tests following removal of any reactors, and clear tests for any inconclusive reactors (IRs)
the test results that started the breakdown are reassessed using severe interpretation
severe interpretation is also used for any immediate herd check test and for the first short interval test

The interpretation of second and subsequent short interval tests will depend on the risk of infection in your herd.

Cattle that have had injections of tuberculin cannot be moved off, even to slaughter, until the results of the test are read. In exceptional cases, APHA will issue a licence to allow such moves.

Interferon gamma and IDEXX antibody tests for M.bovis

The interferon gamma and IDEXX antibody tests are blood tests that may be used in a breakdown to help identify TB infected animals.

These tests do not replace the tuberculin skin test, which is the primary screening test for bovine TB, but will improve the chances of detecting infected cattle.

Interferon gamma testing is used on:

tuberculin skin test-negative or inconclusive animals in all new TB breakdowns that are located in the Low TB Area and the Intermediate TB Area North
tuberculin test-negative or inconclusive animals in herds with a severe breakdown, to inform decisions around whole or partial herd slaughter
tuberculin test-negative or inconclusive animals in herds with recurrent or persistent infection and that fail to resolve through repeated short interval tests
animals which have been identified as IRs at 2 consecutive tests but are not classed as reactors due to the interpretation used at the skin test
animals which have been identified as IRs at severe interpretation in persistent breakdown herds and in herds under enhanced TB control measures
animals identified as IRs at the final test in breakdown herds in certain locations in Wales
inconclusive reactor animals identified at contiguous or post-breakdown 6-month and 12-month tests in certain areas of the intermediate and low TB areas read at severe interpretation, where no reactors are identified

Animals that fail any statutory diagnostic test for bovine TB, including the interferon gamma and the IDEXX antibody tests, will be slaughtered.

The Tuberculosis Order allows for compulsory slaughter of these animals. You’re entitled to the same compensation arrangements for these animals and they will be removed in the same way as skin test reactors.

Cattle that have had a sample taken for a TB blood test cannot be moved off, even to slaughter, until the results of the test are received. In exceptional cases, APHA will issue a licence to allow such moves.

Testing after the removal of restrictions

After movement restrictions are lifted at the end of a breakdown, your herd will regain its OTF status. However it will still need to undergo further tuberculin tests to ensure that:

no infected animals were missed in previous tests
no re-infection has occurred

These tests cover all cattle over 42 days old and the first test is due 6 months from the date of the last short interval test before the TB restrictions were lifted on your herd.

If the test is negative, a second test will be due 12 months after the date of the 6-month test, unless your herd is located within the Intensive Action Area (IAA) where routine testing is more frequent.

If the second test is negative, your herd will return to routine annual testing.

In certain areas of Wales, the 6-month and 12-month tests are read at severe interpretation.

Question 7

Movements on and off restricted premises

Accepted Answer

There may be circumstances where you’ll want to move cattle either on to or off your premises while under movement restrictions, for:

management
breeding
slaughter
sale
contract rearing

The default position is that no movements will be allowed, but in certain low risk situations movements may be authorised under a licence issued by APHA.

Requests for movement licences are subject to an individual veterinary risk assessment by APHA, which considers the potential of introducing disease to your herd or spreading disease within your herd and to other herds.

Movements on to or off your premises should be discussed with the APHA vet at their initial call to discuss disease control on your premises. You can also contact APHA for guidance.

If the restrictions are in place because testing on your premises is overdue, the TB status of your herd will be unknown and licences to move cattle on to or off the premises will not be issued except for some movements directly to a slaughterhouse.

Moving cattle within the TB breakdown premises

You can move animals between the parts of your premises identified under the same movement restriction (TB02) without a licence. Other regulations may still apply, such as pre-movement testing, standstill rules and reporting of movements.

It may be possible to move negative testing cattle from one TB restricted premises to another TB restricted premises under the authority of a licence, but this must be subject to a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment, a clear test within the previous 30 days and licensing.

Moving cattle off TB restricted premises

A licence may be issued, providing the risk of spread of disease is low, for movements off your premises. The following movements can be considered by APHA, but you need licences for these movements, and they will only be issued if the movement does not present a risk of disease spread.

Movement to slaughter

You may be issued with a general movement licence (TB24c), which will mean that you do not need to apply for a specific movement licence every time you take clear testing cattle to slaughter. The licence does not need to stay with the animals while they’re being transported.

In high-risk situations, where a general licence cannot be permitted, you’ll need a specific movement licence (TB24), which you must apply for beforehand and it must stay with the animals during transport. You will need to give APHA the ear numbers of cattle to be moved for inclusion on this licence. It will specify which animals can move, only allows a single specific movement and is for a defined period. You must apply for this licence at least 5 days before the planned movement to ensure you get the licence in time for the movement to take place.

As well as the required movement licence, you must make sure the animals travel to slaughter with their official identification documents (passport or certificate of CTS registration), and the necessary Food Chain Information (FCI). You’ll need additional, specific documentation to send reactors, IRs and DCs to slaughter and this will be provided by APHA.

APHA is not responsible for any loss or inconvenience you may suffer if you fail to provide all the necessary paperwork for animals going to slaughter under licence.

Other requirements when moving animals to slaughter

When moving animals to slaughter there are other requirements you should consider.

Cleanliness

All cattle sent to an abattoir must be of an acceptable cleanliness for hygienic slaughter. Read the Food Standards Agency publication on the different aspects of clean livestock or order it from Food Standards Agency Publications on 0845 606 0667.

Cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996

These cattle are permanently excluded from the food chain and it’s illegal to send them for slaughter for human consumption. At the end of their productive lives, the carcasses must be treated in the same way as fallen stock.

Movement to slaughter through an approved TB slaughter market or collection centre

Cattle may move to slaughter through a collection centre or a ‘red’ market specifically approved for TB restricted cattle, under a licence issued by APHA.

In most circumstances, this movement can be carried out under a general movement licence (TB24c) issued on or after 30 September 2024. This licence will be issued by APHA providing the risk assessment is satisfactory.

In high-risk situations, where a general licence cannot be permitted, you’ll need a specific movement licence (TB190). You must apply for this beforehand and it must stay with the animals during transport. You will need to give APHA the ear numbers of cattle to be moved for inclusion on this licence. It will specify which animals can move, only allows a single specific movement and is for a defined period. You must apply for this licence at least 5 days before the planned movement to ensure you get the licence in time for the movement to take place.

Movement to other TB restricted premises

Cattle that have had a clear test within the previous 30 days may be licensed to move from one restricted premises to another, but the TB status at the premises of destination must be of the same or a higher risk than at the farm of origin.

The movements are also subject to a veterinary risk assessment before a licence will be granted. There may also be some implications to your own testing if you buy cattle from another TB restricted farm. APHA will inform you of this before a licence is issued.

Movement to approved finishing units (AFUs)

Cattle from restricted herds, that have been skin tested with negative results, can be sent to AFUs under licence, for rearing and fattening before being sent on to slaughter. Untested calves under 42 days old can also be licensed to an AFU.

These movements are not usually allowed if the herd’s next test could result in movement restrictions being lifted, unless the animals are:

calves under 42 days old
calves between 42 and 89 days of age, and from a dairy holding (providing the risk is acceptable)

Movement to approved TB isolation units

Cattle from a single restricted herd, that have been skin tested with negative results in the previous 60 days, can be sent to an approved TB isolation unit under licence over a 60 day period. For the isolation unit to regain TB free status, all cattle in the unit will need to complete 2 consecutive tests with negative results, the last test being at least 120 days after the last animal moved into the unit.

If any of the cattle sent to a TB isolation unit in Wales are 180 days old or over when they move in, and they originate from a herd with a breakdown that has persisted for 18 months, the final test that allows the isolation unit to regain TB free status cannot be used as a pre-movement test.

Movement through a dedicated sale for TB restricted cattle

Cattle may move, under licence, through a dedicated sale for TB restricted cattle that has been approved by APHA for this purpose. These sales are held in England and Wales. All cattle must have had a skin test with negative results in the previous 90 days, unless they are calves under 42 days old.

These movements are not usually allowed if the herd’s next test could result in movement restrictions being lifted, unless the animals are:

calves under 42 days old
calves between 42 and 89 days of age and from a dairy holding (providing the risk is acceptable)

Movements from these sales are allowed to either an AFU in England and Wales, or to slaughter in England and Wales.

Find out more about approved facilities for TB restricted cattle.

Moving cattle onto TB restricted premises from unrestricted premises

You can apply for a licence to move cattle from unrestricted premises on to your premises. You will need to complete your first short interval test before a licence to allow restocking of your herd can be considered.

A licence can only be issued after a satisfactory risk assessment by APHA and may be subject to additional conditions. It will specify where the animals can be moved from and is valid for a defined period only. It may specify the ear numbers of the animals allowed to move on.

Contact APHA if you need to replace a suckler calf before the first short interval test.

Movement of carcasses from your premises

If an inconclusive reactor (IR), direct contact (DC) or reactor dies or has to be slaughtered on your farm for welfare reasons, inform APHA immediately – a 24-hour contact service is available.

You do not need a licence to move the carcass, but you must tell APHA before moving it as they may wish to carry out a post-mortem examination. If a post-mortem examination and sampling cannot be carried out, there may be a need for additional herd testing with the subsequent delay on restrictions being lifted.

Never wait to contact APHA before arranging to have an animal slaughtered if the delay puts the animal’s welfare at risk.

You will not get compensation for reactors, IRs and DCs that die on your farm before they are due to be slaughtered.

In addition to these TB requirements, other conditions must be complied with when removing fallen stock.

There is more information on National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) or call 0845 054 8888.

Question 8

Further information

Accepted Answer

There are significant differences in the policies regarding bovine TB in England, Wales and Scotland. Detail on these policies can be accessed on GOV.UK.

If you farm on the border of England and Wales, you should be aware that the location of your animals at the time of the test will influence which protocols are relevant to you.

Read more detailed guidance about bovine TB, including how to spot and report the disease.

There’s also information from the Welsh Government. Read the:

You can get more help and advice from TB Hub.

Contact APHA

In Wales, call 0300 303 8268.

You can choose to hear the telephone message in Welsh. APHA will try to connect you to a Welsh-speaking person.

Email apha.cymruwales@apha.gov.uk

You can send correspondence in English or Welsh to:

APHA Gwasanaethau Maes Cymru/Wales Field Services
Swyddfeydd Penrallt Offices
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1BN

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Applies to Scotland and Wales