Annual TB Test

P_Cash

Due to health and work commitments I havent brought in any stock for the year 2024. ( nothing bought or sold this year)

Annual TB test is normally nov/Dec each year.

Does the dept know I have no stock and no testing needed or do I have any action to take?

Cheers

whelan2

You'll get a letter. Just ring them and tell them the story then. I think those letters come out automatically regardless of stock numbers

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058374948/annual-tb-test

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058374948/annual-tb-test

will you lose some payment by not having a minimum stock rate?

P_Cash

Yes, unfortunately for this year I will. Fortunately it's such a small farm it won't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Sugarbowl

if your neighbor gets locked up, how long do you have before the department decides to test your herd?

Danny healy ray

i think if you have a test in the last 4 months your OK if not they can lock you up any time u will get a text to say your restricted pending a test

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122813578#Comment_122813578

You will get 2 letters in the post, one will tell you your neighbor has tb, the next will tell you that you have to test by a certain date and that you are restricted if over 4 months since your last test.

In my case I think from memory that it was about 2 months from the neighbor going down to me being tested, I was due a herd test either way so did not matter, but since the initial set of letters and a clear test they have put me on 4 monthly testing......

Danny healy ray

is there something in the comic this week about tb and department response to the exploding numbers ??

Anto_Meath

I went down with 4 just over two weeks ago, waiting on lab results now to see how they went in the factory. Not that it makes any difference but you would be more hopeful it there is no signs of TB in the glands.

There is a lot of lads I know around here after going down in the last few weeks. Postman tells me he is flat out delivering brown envelopes. It's a pain in the hole, I can't understand how for years people went down with 1 animal in a test now it's multiple animals. I have heard of people have up to 30 reactors and they wouldn't be that big of herds.

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814025#Comment_122814025

Does the 4 monthly testing mean you can't sell any animals in between the 4 months -regardless of whether they pass the test.

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814584#Comment_122814584

Once your clear you can sell away as normal

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814789#Comment_122814789

Thanks. Also does it count as your annual test if the annual test falls during that time. Fearful here, as letter received that nearest neighbour's herd has reactors.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814814#Comment_122814814

Historically our annual TB test was in May but two years ago we went on 4 month testing due to a couple of outbreaks with neighbours. We had another clear test that September and were due another test the following January but thankfully in the meantime both neighbours had clear tests - our annual TB test is now in September.

Edit to add - September testing suits us better as we don't have to put heavy in calf cows through the crush or adapt the crush (with gates) for young calves and our suckler weanlings are tested ready for sale.

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814870#Comment_122814870

Thanks. The annual date suits us as all animals home and housed, hopefully this won't escalate.

anthony500_1

Unfortunately it's completely out of your control,that's probably the biggest stress. Once it's outside the door of the house it can be put right with time. Lot worse god forbid if it's a child or parent they were coming to tell you there was something wrong with them

if your outside 4 months I think you have to pay for the first one yourself, Last time around here that a neighbor went down my herd test ended up being in Jan instead of Sept, I rang the Dept the following August explaining that I outwinter cattle on an out farm and it was totally impractical to be moving them mid winter back home again after only being there 2 months out of a possible 5 or 6mts. Without any issue they moved it back to Sept

Sugarbowl

I suppose if I don’t hear from anyone I can sell away. No test here in over 9 months so due on the horizon regardless. Hate to be landed with empty cows for the winter bullying around the shed. Nothing good comes of it.

Danny healy ray

bull them worth a few pound more if they go with tb if they go to the mart few months in calf don't think many will mind

Sugarbowl

Have you any comeback on an animal after she is tagged as a reactor by the vet? Can you get her blooded or anything like that?

Anto_Meath

@Sugarbowl no, once the brass tag goes in that's it. The department will be on to you in a few days to arrange a valuation & once that's agreed they will send someone to collect the animal in a few days. 60 days after she leaves you will have your next test. I am currently waiting on my first test after having 4 reactors.

Dunedin

seems to be an awful outbreak of it. Vets seem to be checking really hard for it too.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122903495#Comment_122903495

I posted previously that DAFM are using AI to predict TB hot spots. Link to IFJ article:

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/department-looks-to-ai-for-tb-programme-797544

whelan2

Can't get used to ai being artificial intelligence, always be artificial insemination to me.....

whelan2

We did a private tb test earlier in the week, there's a problem uploading the results so we can't do a movement. I'm wondering is this everywhere or just our vets?