New TB proposals to be announced today.

Anytime I had a reactor I would always follow up with the department to check for lesions.

My understanding is that lesions are a sign of a bad infection so if they are present then you have a serious problem.

I do agree the idea that the purchaser of an animal that is over 6 months since its last test is the one that had to do the test is a bit ridiculous. If it was a case that any animal over say 48 months sold to another farm had to have a test within the last two months it would make more sense.

Seen a dairy sale recently and all the cows were tested last August it definitely affected prices as farmers didn't really want them known they would have to test the cows when they got them home.

Neighbour lost 60 animals on a test what did the department do only cull the vaccinated badger sett on the farm straight away, and blamed his zero grazing in the back end. Nothing about the 80 deer that was culled off his and surrounding land by two hunters and when deer were examined by the trained hunters for lesions up to 30% we’re showing and the department wouldn’t take any samples to the lab due to not been shot by there hunters. TB is an industry and the ones paying the price are farmers and everyone else involved is making the money and the farm organisation sit back quietly.

Its not jumping to conclusions, there is no need for a farmer to contact the department, I followed up on mine regularly and was told that procedure is I would be contacted if anything was found and that if I was not contacted to be told she showed up lesions or a positive in the cultures then she did not have it. I also rang regularly to find out what would be the plan for testing, the impact on neighbours etc. because the single bit of contact I got in the post doesnt tell anything other than youre locked up and you better do what they tell you or youll be in trouble. They couldnt give me a definite answer on any question I asked. It really just sounded as if it was being made up as they were going along. It also took almost a month and I dont even know how many phone calls to get the reactor taken, if they were really serious about it she would be gone in a few days max as if she actually had TB she was just hanging around for another month to spread it to more animals and wildlife.

Did someone check your washing,

The process I had was, 4 animals down, on a Friday.

Phone calls and registered letters received Monday & Tuesday to tell me I was restricted.

Phone call on Wednesday to appoint a valuer.

He landed on Saturday valued the animals. I sign a form to say I agreed the value and he told me to drop other forms that came in the pack back to the DVO which I did on the Monday morning.

Phone call Monday evening to say animals would be be picked up on Tuesday morning.

Small cheque back from the factory on the Friday.

I emailed that to the DVO office & got a phone call to say they want the original & the original receipt for the purchase of disinfectant.

Dropped all into the DVO the following Monday and I was paid my compensation by the Friday. So 3 weeks from the animals went down until I was paid.

Did you submit a form to defer the washing date?

If he submitted the form to defer the washing he should get paid nearly straight away after submitting the factory docket, if not no payment until the washing is done and declaration sent in.

If you have pictures and a receipt for the disinfectant it would be very bad form if they don't pay out.

You should have just let them come out after washing. The inspector would have a fair idea whether it was washed or not and you could have shown him the pictures in the yard.

A lot of those lads have thrust issues from chancers sending in the forms and nothing done.

you will be fine you washed sheds have receipts and pictures have the date on them

@TPF2012 your post is a perfect example of the frustration farmers have with the TB testing program. Sometimes it depends on the vet or mood of the vet on the day you are reading. In fairness to the crew I use the rule seems to be calipers in the pocket & rub the hand along the neck, measure anything they feel needs it.

I remember a department vet one time & she had a little tool box with her with the brass tags and red buttons ready to go.. she definitely only had one thing on her mind.... she didn't last long in our area thankfully.

@jaymla627 there would be murder. As it is a TB outbreak is a significant finical loss.. if the department cut the competition it would be a disaster. It's one of the reasons I wouldn't chance buying in stock when restricted because if a bought in animal goes down in a restricted herd there is no compensation for that animal.

There have been a number of different vets from different practices around barred from testing for not using their calpiers for reading a test, by the department. Department officials hiding in hedges and recording vids and also timing vets. More and more young vets have no connection to agriculture or experience of it before training to be a vet. Dr. Paddy wall said he brought a class of first year vets out to a dairy farmer one Friday, when they arrived the farmer was assisting the cow with a jack, four of the student vets wanted to report the farmer to the department for cruelty, Dr. Wall explained that what the farmer was doing was in no way cruel or abusive, but on Monday morning the four students raised the issue again expressing their wishes to report the farmer to the department for cruelty.

II find the best way is let time thin out the vets that have picked this profession for the wrong reasons.

I normally give the blackleg vaccine under the skin over the ribs precisely for that reason.

Whether or not it’s the correct site I don’t know…

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/new-tb-plan-point-of-sale-risk-info-for-females-over-18-months/

The first reactor retests will be carried out 60 days after the removal of the reactor animals off the holding, as is currently in place. Reactor retest will be carried out at 60-day intervals until there is a clear reactor retest.

"It is only following a clear reactor retest that the clock starts on the four-month period. This revision means there will be an overall increase in time restricted, even if there are no reactors after the first 60-day retest"

So that's 3 clear tests, so that's at best six months after the reactor leaves the farm.

"The sale of cull cows from restricted herds at special mart sales will be expanded to include the sale of dairy cull cows, with no animals allowed return home from such sales"

"However, the department is additionally proposing to develop a support package to facilitate the fencing-off of badger setts"

I suppose we should bring them in home and make them supper