Movement restrictions due to Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)

Why does my herd have to be restricted?

Once reactors have been found in a herd, it is necessary to minimise contact with cattle in other herds. Some of the cattle in the breakdown herd may be incubating the disease but not yet reached the stage where they will react to the TB test. Movement of any cattle from the breakdown herd is prohibited until a series of TB tests is carried out. This ensures that, as far as possible, only disease free cattle are moved to other herds or to markets. You will be given notice of herd movement restrictions on forms BT23/BT25.

You will be able to take animals direct to an abattoir in Northern Ireland while restricted. However, if a restricted herd test (RHT, RH1, RH2) is delayed by more than 1 month past the due date, you will no longer be able to move animals into or out of your herd, including to slaughter, until the restricted herd test is completed and received at your Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO).

Cattle in restricted herds may not move to other herds or to markets. If you are concerned about the impact of movement restrictions you should discuss the situation with your Patch VO (Veterinary Officer). In very exceptional circumstances, eg serious animal welfare concerns, cattle from a restricted herd may be moved to another herd, but only with the permission of the SPVO and following a veterinary assessment. Such herds will be associated immediately and the recipient’s herd will be given the same restrictions and testing regime as the seller’s herd. Testing of neighbouring herds may also be required. To request such a move out of your herd, contact your Patch VO. In the future cattle from TB restricted herds will also be able to move to specially approved high biosecurity fattening herds called “Alternative Control Herds” or “ACHs”. More information will be available when the first ACH has been approved.

Cattle from herds restricted for disease reasons only may go directly to an abattoir. Cattle from herds restricted due to overdue testing may not be able to go to the abattoir. You should contact your local DVO with any queries.
Individually restricted animals going to slaughter must be accompanied by a special movement licence (MC2L) which is available from the local DVO.
For further advice, please see where to find help during a TB breakdown.

How long does a restriction last?

Your herd contains animals that are a risk. The Department will keep on testing your herd to remove disease with as much certainty as possible before allowing you to trade with other herds. This minimises the risk to other herds.

Usually, herds are restricted until they have completed two consecutive clear tests. The first test is carried out not less than 60 days after the removal, or isolation, of reactors from the herd. The next test is done not less than 60 days after the first test. If both these tests are clear and cleansing and disinfection have been carried out to the satisfaction of DAERA inspectors, the herd will usually be derestricted.

If TB is not confirmed and there is only a single positive animal, it may be possible to derestrict the herd after a single clear herd test, carried out not less than 60 days after the removal/isolation of reactors and cleansing and disinfection has been completed and inspected.

Can I buy animals from other herds?

While you are under restriction, you will normally be allowed to buy animals from other herds. In certain circumstances it may be necessary to stop cattle being bought in. If a restricted herd test (RHT, RH1, RH2) is delayed by more than 1 month beyond the due date, DAERA will remove the facility for any movement into or out of your herd, until the test due is completed and received at your Divisional Veterinary Office.

Can I sell animals to slaughter or to other herds?

You can sell animals directly to slaughter, provided your herd tests are completed on time. If a restricted herd test (RHT, RH1, RH2) is delayed more than 1 month past the due date, you will not be able to move animals to slaughter, until the restricted herd test is completed and received at your Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO). Animals should be accompanied by the required movement documents (MC2B and MC2C). Movement must be notified to DAERA by the seller on the day of movement using form MC2A.
Individually restricted animals may only move to slaughter subject to the conditions of a special licence (MC2L), issued by DAERA. Contact your local DVO to obtain an MC2L licence.

While your herd has a TB breakdown, you cannot sell live animals to another herd. If this is causing you serious problems you should discuss this with your Patch VO (Veterinary Officer).

In very exceptional circumstances, e.g. serious animal welfare concerns, cattle from a restricted herd may be moved to another herd, but only with the permission of the SPVO and following a veterinary assessment. Such herds will be associated immediately and the recipient’s herd will be given the same restrictions and testing regime as the seller’s herd. Testing of neighbouring herds may also be required. To request such a move out of your herd, contact your Patch VO. In the future cattle from TB restricted herds will also be able to move to specially approved high biosecurity fattening herds called “Alternative Control Herds” or “ACHs”. More information will be available when the first ACH has been approved.

Can I sell inconclusive reactors to slaughter?

As long as you have no herd tests overdue, you can sell inconclusives to slaughter, but you should discuss it with your Veterinary Officer (VO) first. If an inconclusive is slaughtered, it will have a post mortem and laboratory test, but will avoid doing a skin test which would provide more information.
When you slaughter an inconclusive, you will usually need to have another herd test 60 days later.

Individually restricted animals going to slaughter must be accompanied by a special movement licence (MC2L) which is available from the local DVO. This licence will be endorsed with instructions to the VO at the slaughterhouse indicating that a detailed post-mortem examination is required and samples are to be submitted to the laboratory.

What can DAERA do about the impact of movement restrictions on my herd?

Movement restrictions may cause difficulties, such as the need for extra housing and feed for stock that you would normally have sold. The Department is not empowered to pay compensation for losses which you suffer because you have to change the way you manage your farm or because your herd test is overdue. Such losses may be covered under your farm insurance policy. If you believe that movement restrictions may cause animal welfare problems on your farm, you may wish to discuss this with a Veterinary Officer at the local Divisional Veterinary Office. The welfare of animals on your farm remains your responsibility at all times.

What happens in emergencies?

If an animal is ill or injured, please contact your private vet, who will treat or destroy the animal as appropriate. Animals that have suffered an accident, eg broken leg, may be eligible for on farm slaughter. Meat plants vary in their policies regarding acceptance of such carcases. You should check with the meat plant before leaving the farm.

Carcases must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate signed by your private vet, and a food chain information declaration, signed by yourself. A carcase must also be accompanied by an MC2 or MC2L. Some abattoirs will only accept an MC2L (available from the local DVO).

Please tell us as soon as possible, preferably before the carcase is moved off farm, but do not delay in slaughtering the animal if it would put the animal’s welfare at risk.

Can I sell immediately the restrictions end?

When a herd has undergone a series of TB tests, cleansing and disinfection has been completed satisfactorily, and the Department considers that the infection has been eliminated, a notice is sent to the herd owner advising him that restrictions are withdrawn from the herd (form BT26).

Animals can be moved immediately as soon as this notice has been received.

The vet told me my herd was clear, why am I still restricted?

There may be several reasons for this.

• it may be that a further clear test is required. Two clear tests are always required to derestrict a herd in which TB has been confirmed
• restrictions cannot be lifted until TB test results have been recorded on the computer system and interpreted by a Veterinary Officer (VO). The VO may interpret the test differently to the on-farm interpretation
• some cleansing and disinfection of pens or houses or yards where infected animals were kept is generally required to help combat the spread of TB. The Veterinary Officer dealing with your TB breakdown should have notified you of what is required. This work has to be inspected and signed off as satisfactory before derestriction

More useful links

• Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) testing