Buying calves from TB1/TB4

[FarmerK]

I’m looking into buying some calves and I’ve seen a few advertised that are in TB1 areas. Should this be a concern or are folk not particularly interested in this? We are currently TB4 and I’m just not up to date with all of this because we mainly have sheep. Any help would be appreciated

 

[Gedd]

Personally I wouldn't keep tb1 in tb1 area why risk spreading it around the country

 

[pellow]

Think about the scenario where you buy calves from TB1 and shortly after your neighbours get TB in their cattle, whether its your fault or not I expect it will strain relations

here is some reading material

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/tb-areas-explained.177324/

 

[JP1]

Interesting question

What type of calves?

In some ways if the herd would have been regularly screened in TB1 whereas in TB4 the testing window might mean cattle come in and out a TB4 herd without testing

Personally I'd want to know the herd health status for the four main nasties as much as TB

 

[som farmer]

no one has yet said tb is inherited cow to calf, it is spread, badger/cow or vice versus, or cow/cow, calves do not seem to be a serious risk. But, large volumes of cattle move from high risk areas, to low risk, as in dairy cattle, devon to Scotland, the argument being, they have passed a premovement test, therefore they are 'clean'.
On the other side of the coin, what would happen, if breakdown on your farm, with your previously friendly neighbours ?, saying that, calves would post a very low risk. Just think about what you plan to do, don't think calf price in TB1 and TB4 varies much

 

[milkloss]

Us TB1’s aren’t all rife with Tb you know. At least we get tested every year And for each sale that isn't direct slaughter...... Lord knows what’s going on in Tb4 areas......... Head in sand maybe?

 

[Arceye]

We regularly buy from TB1 into TB4, also TB4 calves cost a fortune. There just isn't the volume of calves in the TB4 areas. Personally I think everyone should be on 12 month testing but vets think otherwise, citing the test is not good enough and there are always false positives which would spike the results. This is true but it would be a one off. AH don't actually have the ability to cope with it either.
TB4 area animals can get away with one test, at the abattoir, I don't think this is right.
Incidentally the only animal I had fail was from a TB4 area, that well known TB free area called Scotland.

 

[Sid]

Go here and look at the history

ibTB - Mapping bovine TB (bTB) in England and Wales

ibTB is an interactive tool mapping bovine tuberculosis (bTB) outbreaks in England and Wales over the previous 10 years

www.ibtb.co.uk

 

[Arceye]

Go here and look at the history

ibTB - Mapping bovine TB (bTB) in England and Wales

ibTB is an interactive tool mapping bovine tuberculosis (bTB) outbreaks in England and Wales over the previous 10 years

www.ibtb.co.uk

Been there too and quite interesting, scary perhaps........Scotland isn't on it though!
Not quite so easy when buying calves from rearers, they come from allover the place.

 

[Sid]

Been there too and quite interesting, scary perhaps........Scotland isn't on it though!
Not quite so easy when buying calves from rearers, they come from allover the place.

Quite scary yes.
I sold a bunch of calves at sedgemoor in Somerset and traced each one via the cph movement on bcms online.
They went anywhere from back to my next door neighbour to kidderminster to Bournemouth and places inbetween!

 

[livestock 1]

I can’t understand why Scotland doesn’t declare its tb issues!

 

[topground]

I can’t understand why Scotland doesn’t declare its tb issues!

Possibly the same reason the French never declared their BSE issues?

 

[milkloss]

Possibly the same reason the French never declared their BSE issues?

What BSE?

 

[livestock 1]

They have had cases but it’s not helpful covering it up

 

[milkloss]

They have had cases but it’s not helpful covering it up

yeah. I was supposed to use a smiley of some sort!

 

[som farmer]

f'ing tb, just had second clear test, none of those 'taken' had lesions, nor any cultured, on our first clear test, one cow missed of list, letter from ah, fine, get vets to send in form xyz, rung vets, no problem, had another letter, passed to vets, gave them a couple of days, rung, all done. 2nd clear test, sale booked, letter from min, have to test again, vets didn't do something right, when they answered the query, there has been some very cold phone calls to vets, have spoken to min, they are saying I have to test again, talk about a kick in the teeth, or worse, vets are appealing, but....