Cattle Movement Controls and TB Surveillance

New rules are to be introduced as from 1^st January 2013 with the aim of reducing the spread of bovine TB between cattle.  The measures include changes to the TB surveillance testing regime and TB cattle movement controls.

TB Surveillance Testing

Under the new rules, the surveillance testing will be altered so that England will be divided into two cattle TB testing frequency areas; annual and four yearly.  There will be no two and three yearly testing intervals as from 1^st January 2013 and TB testing intervals for cattle will be determined on a county basis rather than by parishes.  As from 1^st January, in addition to the counties currently on annual testing* the following counties will be placed on annual TB testing;

Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and East Sussex.

DEFRA’s reasoning for extending the annual testing frequency is that evidence shows there has been a continued spread of the endemic TB areas from the South and South West towards the North and East of England and there is the requirement to keep ahead of the ‘disease front’.  The move to a county basis rather than by Parish also makes the UK compliant with EU law and will help to ensure the much needed EU co-financing stays in place.

Furthermore, TB surveillance around breakdowns in four yearly areas will be enhanced.  Herds within a 3km will require an immediate skin test, with a follow up six months later and, if negative, 12 months after that.  However, these herds (if they remain negative) should see their routine TB testing intervals return to four-yearly testing more quickly than under the old parish-based system.  Also, individual high-risk cattle herds, such as bull hire herds, heifer rearing herds, producer-retailers of raw drinking milk and those who regularly purchase cattle from high incidence countries or counties in England and Wales will remain on annual testing even where they are located in a four-yearly testing area (as currently).  Cattle keepers will be notified of their testing interval (TI) and herd testing interval (HTI) via the usual statement in late November/December.

What this means for keepers is that those within the annual testing areas will need to have a pre-movement test before moving cattle.  This includes those higher risk herds in the four-yearly testing areas.  CTS links will only be allowed between holdings within the same testing frequency (either annual or four yearly).  This is probably less of a problem now with the move to county intervals unless the holding is near a county border. 

* The following counties are already subject to annual TB testing; Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Avon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

TB Movement Controls

The following changes will be introduced as from 1^st January 2013:

• Re-stocking of Officially TB Free Status suspended (OFTS) herds will only be allowed after the herd has completed its first post-breakdown test and subject to a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment (this is in-line with Officially TB Free Status Withdrawn herds).
• The movement window forcattle from TB restricted herds will be reduced from 60 to 30 days from their last clear test unless moving direct to slaughter or to an Approved Finishing Unit in which case it will remain at 60 days.
• No new Approved Quarantine Units (AQU) will be allowed and existing ones will be phased out.  From 1^st January 2013 existing AQUs will not be allowed to restock.
• Approved Finishing Units found breaching their operating conditions could see their licence removed.