Official Statistics

Tuberculosis (TB) in Cattle: Pre-movement and Post-movement Testing in Great Britain, 2006 to June 2021 - html version

Updated 5 September 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This notice contains statistics on statutory pre- and post- movement TB testing that is carried out to reduce the risk of spreading TB through movements of infected cattle. Unlike the majority of TB tests, the pre- and post-movement tests reported on in this notice were arranged and paid for by herd owners.

Key points April to June 2021

• Pre-movement tests in England led to the identification of 97 reactors, including 4 inconclusive reactors (IRs) that became reactors at retest, out of 130,670 tests completed.
• Pre-movement testing in Wales led to the identification of 14 reactors, out of 38,811 tests completed.
• Post-movement testing in the Low Risk Area (LRA) of England identified no reactors, out of 14,256 tests completed, the first time this has occurred since the final quarter of 2018.
• There were 526 post-movement tests in Scotland of animals that had arrived from annual and six-monthly testing areas in England and Wales. These tests identified no reactors.
• Post-movement testing in the low TB area of Wales led to identification of no reactors, out of 3,272 tests completed.

1. Introduction to Pre- and Post- Movement TB Testing

The different TB movement testing regimes in England, Scotland and Wales reflect regional variations in disease incidence, including the Officially TB Free status of Scotland.

The movement of cattle with undetected TB infection is believed to be the most common way in which this disease spreads to new areas. In particular, movements of cattle from high bovine TB incidence areas of GB pose a substantial risk of introducing the infection to the lower incidence areas of England and Wales and to Scotland, which has been officially free of TB since September 2009. Such movements account for more than a third of all new TB herd breakdowns with lesion- or culture-positive animals identified in the LRA each year and about one fifth of such breakdowns in the Edge Area. Source: Bovine tuberculosis in England in 2020: Epidemiological analysis of the 2020 data and historical trends. Figure 3.2.10 Summary of the weighted source of infection attributed for all incidents that started in 2020, in the LRA.

2. England Pre-movement TB Testing

Compulsory pre-movement testing of cattle was introduced in England in March 2006, initially for animals over 15 months of age. The minimum qualifying age was lowered to 42 days the following year. Legislative changes implemented since 2012 have progressively led to the abolition of the majority of pre-movement testing exemptions that were permitted under the original TB legislation. Nowadays, all cattle aged 42 days and over moving out of annually (or more-frequently) tested herds must have a skin test with negative results within 60 days before movement, with few exceptions such as cattle moving directly to slaughter, to an approved finishing unit (AFU) or to a slaughter market.

Figure 2.1 Reactors slaughtered by quarter in England following disclosure by pre-movement tests, since the rollout of the policy in March 2006

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Annual numbers of pre-movement tests (PRMT) in England increased by 27% between 2012 and 2016. There was an expansion of the areas under annual routine testing and the division of England on 1 January 2013 into a Low Risk Area (on background four-yearly herd testing) and High Risk and Edge Areas (where cattle herds were placed on annual or six-monthly surveillance testing). Annual numbers of pre-movement tests in England have been generally level since 2017.

Table 2.1 England pre-movement TB tests quarterly

Measure	Jul-Sep 2020	Oct-Dec 2020	Jan-Mar 2021	Apr-Jun 2021
All movements	1,158,747	1,232,003	1,133,872	1,203,795
Pre-movement animal tests	126,568	113,237	120,938	130,670
Pre-movement test reactors	167	112	89	93
Total reactors: PRMT and IR to R	172	128	99	97
Herds with reactors	92	51	49	51

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Table 2.2 England pre-movement TB tests annually, 2017 to 2020

Measure	2017	2018	2019	2020
All movements	4,738,884	4,705,584	4,644,283	4,687,823
Pre-movement animal tests	494,268	484,428	475,724	486,165
Pre-movement test reactors	518	445	447	547
Total reactors: PRMT and IR to R	565	490	480	578
Herds with reactors	280	233	215	272

3. Wales Pre-movement TB Testing

The policy was introduced to Wales in May 2006, with some changes to exemptions since 2010. All cattle aged 42 days and over moving out of an annually or more-frequently tested herd must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days before movement - unless the herd or type of movement is exempt.

Figure 3.1 Reactors slaughtered by quarter in Wales following disclosure by pre-movement tests, since the rollout of the policy in March 2006

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From 1 October 2017 farmers in the Low TB Area of Wales are not required to pre-movement test (PRMT) cattle (some exceptions apply). In the 12 months before the policy change farmers in the Low TB area paid for 50,304 PRMT, around 45,000 of these tests in Wales would now not be required. This represents 25% of all PRMT in Wales during the 12 month period before the policy change. The underlying statistical dataset from 2006 (Table B: Wales Pre-movement tests) is available to download.

Annual numbers of pre-movement tests (PRMT) in Wales increased by 27% between 2012 and 2016. There was an expansion of the areas under annual routine testing and the division of England on 1 January 2013 into a Low Risk Area (on background four-yearly herd testing) and High Risk and Edge Areas (where cattle herds were placed on annual or six-monthly surveillance testing). Annual numbers of pre-movement tests in Wales have been generally level since 2018.

Since 2013 the number of herds in Wales that have had reactors disclosed by pre-movement testing has remained fairly consistent as an annual total. Figure 3.1 shows the seasonal fluctuation in reactors slaughtered with peaks generally in the July to September quarter. This is most likely due the PRMT undertaken prior to the October moves and sales, when animals have been grazing outdoors during spring and summer.

Table 3.1 Wales pre-movement TB tests quarterly

Measure	Jul-Sep 2020	Oct-Dec 2020	Jan-Mar 2021	Apr-Jun 2021
All movements	225,809	239,639	196,915	236,843
Pre-movement animal tests	37,479	30,626	34,385	38,811
Pre-movement test reactors	20	32	29	14
Total reactors: PRMT and IR to R	21	33	30	14
Herds with reactors	14	15	15	8

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Table 3.2 Wales pre-movement TB tests annually, 2017 to 2020

Measure	2017	2018	2019	2020
All movements	894,532	917,526	880,580	886,833
Pre-movement animal tests	165,786	134,983	129,855	136,138
Pre-movement test reactors	118	116	106	80
Total reactors: PRMT and IR to R	134	136	128	83
Herds with reactors	57	55	54	42

4. Scotland post-movement TB Testing

Introduced in 2005, all cattle 42 days old and over in a yearly testing area must be pre-movement tested before they enter any Scottish herd. Having entered a Scottish herd these animals must be post-movement tested within 60-120 days although exemptions apply such as if a routine herd test is scheduled.

The figures shown here relate solely to Scotland’s post-movement testing rules. A small number of compliance tests are carried out in Scotland on animals with movements not compliant with England and Wales testing rules before they were moved to Scotland. These tests are not included in the data.

The number of reactors disclosed by these tests is consistently very low. The number of post-movement tests carried out each quarter in Scotland is usually in the 200 to 400 range. Q1 2021 was exceptionally high at 1,028 with around a third of this number comprising one large batch.

In September 2015 there was a change to the way that tests on animals arriving from Northern Ireland were recorded so that they are now captured on a separate code. Data from earlier years is not directly comparable. The underlying statistical dataset from 2006 (Table C: Scotland post-movement tests) is available to download.

Table 4.1 Scotland post-movement tests quarterly

Measure	Jul-Sep 2020	Oct-Dec 2020	Jan-Mar 2021	Apr-Jun 2021
Post-movement tests (POMT)	405	432	1,028	526
Post-movement test reactors	0	0	0	0
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	0	0	0	0
Herds with reactors	0	0	0	0

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Table 4.2 Scotland post-movement tests annually, 2017 to 2020

Measure	2017	2018	2019	2020
Post-movement tests	1,218	1,223	1,859	1,544
Post-movement test reactors	0	1	0	8
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	0	1	0	8
Herds with reactors	0	1	0	1

5. England post-movement TB Testing in the Low Risk Area

Introduced on 6 April 2016, post-movement testing is required between 60 and 120 days after animals arrive to the low risk area (LRA) from other parts of England or from Wales. Therefore, the movements may have been undertaken in the previous period e.g. reactors found in Q1 could correspond to testing of animals moved during Q4.

Figure 5.1 Reactors slaughtered by quarter in England following disclosure by post-movement tests, since the rollout of the policy in April 2016

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The latest quarter identified no reactors. The quarterly testing effort has remained relatively consistent since 2017, with the number of reactors disclosed ranging from 0 to 40. The first quarter of 2018 saw the most tests ever conducted in a single quarter. The underlying statistical dataset (Table D: England post-movement tests) is available to download.

Table 5.1 Post-movement testing in Low Risk Area of England, quarterly

Measure	Jul-Sep 2020	Oct-Dec 2020	Jan-Mar 2021	Apr-Jun 2021
Cattle movements on to the LRA from Wales and higher risk areas of England	28,869	29,255	29,545	31,407
Post-movement tests (POMT)	11,928	12,339	15,019	14,256
POMT reactors	3	8	1	0
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	3	8	3	0
Herds with reactors	3	6	1	0

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Table 5.2 Post-movement testing in Low Risk Area of England, annually

Measure	2017	2018	2019	2020
Cattle movements on to the LRA from Wales and higher risk areas of England	117,875	115,431	104,521	112,921
Post-movement tests (POMT)	54,861	61,254	54,143	49,242
POMT reactors	13	33	57	22
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	15	34	63	23
Herds with reactors	10	8	6	18

6. Wales post-movement TB Testing in the Low TB Area

From 1 October 2017 farmers in the Low TB Area of Wales need to Post-Movement Test cattle which move from a herd in an Intermediate or High TB area in Wales; or the Edge or High Risk Area of England. In common with the England LRA testing policy, a post movement test is not needed if the animal is tested as part of an annual surveillance test within the 60 to 120 day Post-Movement Test window. Therefore the movements may have been undertaken in the previous period e.g. reactors found in Q1 could correspond to testing of animals moved during Q4 the previous year (or earlier if tested when non-compliance was found).

Q4 2020 saw the first ever reactors identified by a post-movement test in Wales since the policy was introduced. Q1 2021 then saw 1 further reactor identified after having been moved from a farm in the Intermediate North TB area. The underlying statistical dataset (Table E: Wales post-movement tests) is available to download.

Table 6.1 Post-movement testing in Low TB Area of Wales, quarterly

Measure	Jul-Sep 2020	Oct-Dec 2020	Jan-Mar 2021	Jan-Mar 2021
Cattle movements on to the Low TB Area from higher risk areas of England and Wales	4,981	5,492	3,972	5,329
Post-movement tests (POMT)	3,355	2,672	3,091	3,272
POMT reactors	0	2	1	0
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	0	2	1	0
Herds with reactors	0	1	1	0

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Table 6.2 Post-movement testing in Low TB Area of Wales, annually

Measure	Oct-Dec 2017	2018	2019	2020
Cattle movements on to the Low TB Area from higher risk areas of England and Wales	5,078	14,335	16,091	19,346
Post-movement tests (POMT)	63	8,751	10,786	10,695
POMT reactors	0	0	0	2
Total reactors: POMT and IR to R	0	0	0	0
Herds with reactors	0	0	0	2

7. What you need to know about this release

7.1 Contact details

Email address: TBStatistics@Defra.gov.uk

Public enquiries:

Defra TB Statistics
Foss House, Kings Pool
Peasholme Green
York
YO1 7PX

Media Enquiries: 0208 225 7318 (Press Office)

7.2 Official statistics status

This is an Official Statistics publication. These statistics have been produced to the high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

8. About these statistics

8.1 Data source and future revisions

These statistics are obtained from three sources:

• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) work management IT support system (Sam), used for the administration of TB testing in GB,
• APHA Customer Service Centre,
• The Cattle Tracing System (CTS).

These statistics may be subject to small revisions until all test results are available. Data can be subject to review back to 2019.

8.2 Feedback on these statistics

We encourage our users to engage with us so we can improve our National and Official Statistics and identify gaps in the statistics that we produce. This document has been designed to meet the accessibility requirements outlined in WCAG 2.1. Should you have any comments on this statistical release and how to improve it to meet your needs please contact us by email to tbstatistics@defra.gov.uk

8.3 Future publications

The publication calendar is available to view at: Release Calendar.

9. Glossary

Term	Definition
AFU	Approved Finishing Units. AFUs provide a route for rearing, fattening or finishing cattle from TB restricted and un-restricted farms. AFUs must be approved and licensed by APHA. There are two types: AFUs with grazing (only in certain areas of the High Risk Area of England only) and AFUs without grazing.
APHA	Animal and Plant Health Agency.
CTS	Cattle Tracing System.
EFU	Exempt Finishing Units. EFUs provide a route for beef producers to finish cattle without the need for a pre-movement test. EFUs must be approved and licensed by APHA. These units must meet strict conditions to reduce the potential risk of disease spread from the premises. There are two types: EFUs with grazing and EFUs without grazing. From 1 July 2017 no new units can be approved in Wales. From 1 January 2018 no EFUs exist in Wales.
IR	Inconclusive reactor. An animal showing a positive reaction to tuberculin that was not strong enough for it to be deemed a reactor. These animals may be tested again after 60 days or can be slaughtered voluntarily.
LFU	A licensed finishing unit (LFU) is a type of TB unit approved by APHA in the LRA and Low TB Area of Wales. Cattle finished in LFUs will remain under movement restrictions at all times and can only be moved from those units directly to slaughter.
LRA	Low risk area of England.
POMT	General term for all types of post movement tests.
POSTLRAOV	LRA Post-Movement TB Test Code.
POSTMOVOV	Wales Low TB Area Post-Movement Test Code.
POSTMTS	Post-movement test (Scotland) This is a post-movement test, paid for by the keeper, to be carried out 60-120 days after arrival to Scotland from England or Wales (exceptions apply). The code was amended in September 2015 to exclude animals arriving from Northern Ireland.
PRMT	Pre-movement test (England, Wales) a pre-movement test carried out 60 days or less prior to movement of an animal(s) from an annually or more frequently tested herd.
PRMTS	A test paid for by the keeper to be carried out on cattle that have arrived into Scotland that should have had a pre-movement test before departure. Data is not included in these statistics.
R	Reactor. An animal which was compulsorily slaughtered because it responded to the tuberculin skin test in a way that was consistent with it being infected with Mycobacterium bovis.