Farmers registered to receive Department of Agriculture SMS text alerts received notification this week alerting them to new TB rules coming into place on 1 February 2023.
The new EU regulations will implement tighter movement restrictions for all animals but these are being introduced on a phased basis with cows and male cattle over 36 months of age the first group affected.
The requirements can be broken down into two components.
- Cows of all ages and males over 36 months of age which are moving from farm to farm or through a mart sale must be TB-tested in the last six months. These animals must also be moving from a herd which has been tested for TB in the last six months.
- If animals do not fulfil both of these criteria, then they must be tested either 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.
Herd restrictions
If these conditions above are not met, then the Department will introduce herd restrictions which increase in gravity the longer animals are not tested as detailed below.
Animals falling into the category of requiring a test in the 30 days post movement will be immediately restricted (except for direct movement to slaughter) to its new herd. Herd keepers have 30 days to carry out a test on these animals. If the herd which received the animals does not test the animals in question within the 30-day timeline, then the entire herd will be restricted, with the exception of animals moving direct to slaughter and the sale of calves less than six weeks of age. Such calves traded under six weeks of age will not be export eligible without testing. The slaughter of all restricted animals will automatically lift the restriction, provided the animal tests clear. Purchasing of animals will be permitted during this period.
If an animal(s) has not been tested 60 days later (ie after 90 days post-movement) the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
Cows and males aged over 36 months of age are the first category of stock to face tighter TB-related movement restrictions. \ Donal O'Leary
Once this is triggered, there will be no lifting of the restrictions even if the animal(s) in question is slaughtered. Sales of calves less than six weeks of age can continue, along with the purchase of animals right up until the day before a test is due.
Departmental defence
There has been quite a lot of concern raised since the new rules were first mooted that the new rules would harm the live trade of cull cows, which has been a really bright aspect of the cattle trade over the last 18 months to two years.
The Department information note claims that the programme outlined above “allows the opportunity for cull cows to be purchased, fed and slaughtered without incurring the cost of testing”.
It should also be noted that herds operating under a controlled finishing unit status do not abide by these rules as they are continuously restricted under the TB eradication programme.
Farmers registered to receive Department of Agriculture SMS text alerts received notification this week alerting them to new TB rules coming into place on 1 February 2023.
The new EU regulations will implement tighter movement restrictions for all animals but these are being introduced on a phased basis with cows and male cattle over 36 months of age the first group affected.
The requirements can be broken down into two components.
- Cows of all ages and males over 36 months of age which are moving from farm to farm or through a mart sale must be TB-tested in the last six months. These animals must also be moving from a herd which has been tested for TB in the last six months.
- If animals do not fulfil both of these criteria, then they must be tested either 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.
Herd restrictions
If these conditions above are not met, then the Department will introduce herd restrictions which increase in gravity the longer animals are not tested as detailed below.
Animals falling into the category of requiring a test in the 30 days post movement will be immediately restricted (except for direct movement to slaughter) to its new herd. Herd keepers have 30 days to carry out a test on these animals. If the herd which received the animals does not test the animals in question within the 30-day timeline, then the entire herd will be restricted, with the exception of animals moving direct to slaughter and the sale of calves less than six weeks of age. Such calves traded under six weeks of age will not be export eligible without testing. The slaughter of all restricted animals will automatically lift the restriction, provided the animal tests clear. Purchasing of animals will be permitted during this period.
If an animal(s) has not been tested 60 days later (ie after 90 days post-movement) the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
Cows and males aged over 36 months of age are the first category of stock to face tighter TB-related movement restrictions. \ Donal O'Leary
Once this is triggered, there will be no lifting of the restrictions even if the animal(s) in question is slaughtered. Sales of calves less than six weeks of age can continue, along with the purchase of animals right up until the day before a test is due.
Departmental defence
There has been quite a lot of concern raised since the new rules were first mooted that the new rules would harm the live trade of cull cows, which has been a really bright aspect of the cattle trade over the last 18 months to two years.
The Department information note claims that the programme outlined above “allows the opportunity for cull cows to be purchased, fed and slaughtered without incurring the cost of testing”.
It should also be noted that herds operating under a controlled finishing unit status do not abide by these rules as they are continuously restricted under the TB eradication programme.
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