Got a questionable reactor now what ?

We've just had our routine tb test today and we've got a reactor according to the young fresh out of school vet. We're doubtful as this cow shot he head up and bent the needle on the thingymajig but hey ho she's got a green tag of disapproval and We're under restrictions. Gutted to say the least, now what I want to know is if when the poor bugger goes if upon examination she doesn't have it do restrictions get lifted and gets marked as a false result or do we still have to go through the rigmarole of restrictions and further tests ?
 
Location
Devon
We've just had our routine tb test today and we've got a reactor according to the young fresh out of school vet. We're doubtful as this cow shot he head up and bent the needle on the thingymajig but hey ho she's got a green tag of disapproval and We're under restrictions. Gutted to say the least, now what I want to know is if when the poor bugger goes if upon examination she doesn't have it do restrictions get lifted and gets marked as a false result or do we still have to go through the rigmarole of restrictions and further tests ?
Plenty of farmers try to come up with reasons why their animal is not actually a reactor the first time they go down and which you are trying to do.

It is what it is sadly.

You will have to do 2 whole herd tests at least, untill the first one is completed and any further reactor's removed you will not be allowed to buy anything in with the only exceptions under a licence being a breeding bull or a calf needed to put onto a suckler cow if she has lost her own when calving for example!

You will not be allowed to sell anything store untill you have had 2 clear herd tests unless you sell them in a TB2 market, you can sell deadweight like normal providing you have the licence to do so!
 
We've just had our routine tb test today and we've got a reactor according to the young fresh out of school vet. We're doubtful as this cow shot he head up and bent the needle on the thingymajig but hey ho she's got a green tag of disapproval and We're under restrictions. Gutted to say the least, now what I want to know is if when the poor bugger goes if upon examination she doesn't have it do restrictions get lifted and gets marked as a false result or do we still have to go through the rigmarole of restrictions and further tests ?
You’ll be even more pee'd off if the animal comes back with no visible leasions and negative on the culture test but it is what it is, you’ve had a reactor and you’re down, there is no oooops we got it wrong option.
 

roscoe erf

Member
Livestock Farmer
We've just had our routine tb test today and we've got a reactor according to the young fresh out of school vet. We're doubtful as this cow shot he head up and bent the needle on the thingymajig but hey ho she's got a green tag of disapproval and We're under restrictions. Gutted to say the least, now what I want to know is if when the poor bugger goes if upon examination she doesn't have it do restrictions get lifted and gets marked as a false result or do we still have to go through the rigmarole of restrictions and further tests ?
we had one the same many years ago knew it wasn't right she went off and they found nothing still took time to get clear which each test came back as clear after.just ride it out its all you can do
 
As above, but if your animal is NVL and not culture +ve then I think one whole herd test may be the ruling. It used to be anyway.
You can sell deadweight, with a general license, but need a license to buy in too.

A location would be useful, as different areas seem to have a slightly different interpretation of rules. As does the farm's herd history and 'on' movement records. i.e was the animal bought in.
Are you in a 1 year testing area, or 4?
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
As above, but if your animal is NVL and not culture +ve then I think one whole herd test may be the ruling. It used to be anyway.
You can sell deadweight, with a general license, but need a license to buy in too.

A location would be useful, as different areas seem to have a slightly different interpretation of rules. As does the farm's herd history and 'on' movement records. i.e was the animal bought in.
Are you in a 1 year testing area, or 4?
Correct.
NVL and negative culture one clear whole herd test.

I doubt they will culture.
 
Plenty of farmers try to come up with reasons why their animal is not actually a reactor the first time they go down and which you are trying to do.

It is what it is sadly.

You will have to do 2 whole herd tests at least, untill the first one is completed and any further reactor's removed you will not be allowed to buy anything in with the only exceptions under a licence being a breeding bull or a calf needed to put onto a suckler cow if she has lost her own when calving for example!

You will not be allowed to sell anything store untill you have had 2 clear herd tests unless you sell them in a TB2 market, you can sell deadweight like normal providing you have the licence to do so!
In wales you need 2 clear tests AND a 60 day pre movement test to sell anything🤦‍♂️
They are making it up as they go along
 
Got to ask, if it was your neighbours herd and the fresh out of school vet didn't have the confidence to shut them down and turned a blind eye to be a legend, would you be happy?
Last time this happened a few years ago in a bought in cow we were put on restriction but the ministry vet came out and did a retest on her and it came back negative and everything was lifted. But there seems no option of that now.
We only have 30 sucklers running on some rough land and river backs. All arable and pig neighbours surrounding us here thought we were safe being in a tb4 area very few badgers plenty of deer though.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
We've just had our routine tb test today and we've got a reactor according to the young fresh out of school vet. We're doubtful as this cow shot he head up and bent the needle on the thingymajig but hey ho she's got a green tag of disapproval and We're under restrictions. Gutted to say the least, now what I want to know is if when the poor bugger goes if upon examination she doesn't have it do restrictions get lifted and gets marked as a false result or do we still have to go through the rigmarole of restrictions and further tests ?
Don't blame the vet for being new, they've all got to start somewhere! And an animal moving whilst being jabbed is a common occurrence and happens to even the most experienced of testers!
Tbh I'd rather have a new tester, freshly trained than some old timer who hates testing and cuts corners!
 
its an unreliable test anyway so chances are you've not got it

Strange that the intradermal skin test is the universally used primary test fir zoonotic Tb has been able to clear several countries completely of TB in cattle then? But only in the absence of a wildlife reservoir.
And if that reservoir remains untouched it will continue to upspill into our sentinel tested cattle but also into many other mammals, including humans. 🙄
 
Yes it says the animal has failed the test, it does not confirm the animal has tb. Thats just how it is.
Just like the Mantoux test in humans, the skin test will give a ‘reaction’ if the candidate / animal has come into contact with the bacteria which may go on to cause clinical T.B. As you say, many cattle will not have had time between tests to show lesions.
 

Treecreeper

Member
Livestock Farmer
We had number of disappointing tests a while back with different testers, there were none that I could say didn't try to make it work for us even when it was obvious it was a hopeless case.
When we had one particularly bad test the tester thanked me for not being rude to them. Denying that you have a problem or being rude or intimidating will do nothing to help the tb situation.
 
Location
Devon
As above, but if your animal is NVL and not culture +ve then I think one whole herd test may be the ruling. It used to be anyway.
You can sell deadweight, with a general license, but need a license to buy in too.

A location would be useful, as different areas seem to have a slightly different interpretation of rules. As does the farm's herd history and 'on' movement records. i.e was the animal bought in.
Are you in a 1 year testing area, or 4?
Two farms i have heard of recently, not had TB in years, both had a reactor at herd test, was killed and was NVL, did not culture and both herds had to have two clear tests for the restrictions to be lifted!
 

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