Stick or twist..

[Foregoneconclusion]

Just had a disappointing tb test. 4 IRs .

So we were already under restrictions but this was to be the clearing test. Last irs were negative

I have 2 options..

1. Wait 60 days and skin test 4 irs

2. Gamma test asap


If cows fail either test then we back to where we were yesterday ie 60 day testing..

If they clear on gamma.. yay restrictions lifted asap..likewise skin test in 2 months..
For some reason my local ahvla is advising i wait 60 days..as consequences of the failed gamma are more severe..

Any suggestions? I'll speak to ahvla next week..

Should i stick...or twist..?

 

[davidroberts30]

What if you slaughter them?

 

[neilo]

What if you slaughter them?

They are treated as if they were reactors and you are put on restriction. We may have tried that once.....?

 

[Danllan]

Gamma would be my choice, but it's bl**dy hard to 'advise' someone else what to do, good luck. ?





(And all because there's a bolt through the neck of officialdom about vaccines and culls )

 

[Foregoneconclusion]

I think the difference betwen a failure at gamma and a failure at skin test is the level of severity they wil interpret the next tests at. Severe if the moos fail at gamma, standard severe if a 2 ir ..

either way if they fail its back on the very familiar (decade now) testing at regular intervals..

I am desperate to get some clarity on my current situation as i need to de- stock.. i have too many heifers of all age groups and my dairy herd is too young to build volumes.

My instinct is to get gamma done as if they pass we are in the clear alot sooner than if we just do skin test in 2 months; similarly , if there is a tb problem in my herd i want it removed as soon as possible (even tho even my dog and the chickens know this problem will never go away while there's another vector around).

What i don't know is .. are they more likely to pass skin test in 2 months or the gamma..

decisions decisions..

 

[Farmer Fin]

Sorry for your situation. You need clarification in writing from your case vet on the outcome of skin or gamma re test. I would imagine if you failed either you would then be back on severe interpretation. Not sure on your area policy as to whether you would get a whole herd gamma as well. If you have been down for 10 years I would imagine not.
I would take the view that get the gamma done and get on with it rather than wait 2 months. On a second though are they going to restrict the whole herd immediately or just the IRs. Can you do some private pre movement testing to destock in the next two months?

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

It’s a gamble two years ago we had 5irs all went clear on next test this year 5irs but 3 went because we had a reactor the two that were left one went clear and other one went inconclusive again so she had to go.

 

[Foregoneconclusion]

Sorry for your situation. You need clarification in writing from your case vet on the outcome of skin or gamma re test. I would imagine if you failed either you would then be back on severe interpretation. Not sure on your area policy as to whether you would get a whole herd gamma as well. If you have been down for 10 years I would imagine not.
I would take the view that get the gamma done and get on with it rather than wait 2 months. On a second though are they going to restrict the whole herd immediately or just the IRs. Can you do some private pre movement testing to destock in the next two months?

Thankyou

Whole herd remains under restrictions.
You are right i need clarity from ahvla.

All stock just tested so i will be looking for a license to move animals to tb units..but getting that is not guaranteed..

It's certainly a gamble as if gammas are positive i lose the ability to move stock even under licence..

 

[multi power]

If you go for gamma you will be very likely to loose more animals as it has quite a lot of false positives, but no false negatives

 

[Jackov Altraids]

When i was in your situation, the most significant point was that with a skin test the animals would be noted as IR's for life and could only go for slaughter but gamma testing would remove the IR status as long as done asap.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I think the difference betwen a failure at gamma and a failure at skin test is the level of severity they wil interpret the next tests at. Severe if the moos fail at gamma, standard severe if a 2 ir ..

either way if they fail its back on the very familiar (decade now) testing at regular intervals..

I am desperate to get some clarity on my current situation as i need to de- stock.. i have too many heifers of all age groups and my dairy herd is too young to build volumes.

My instinct is to get gamma done as if they pass we are in the clear alot sooner than if we just do skin test in 2 months; similarly , if there is a tb problem in my herd i want it removed as soon as possible (even tho even my dog and the chickens know this problem will never go away while there's another vector around).

What i don't know is .. are they more likely to pass skin test in 2 months or the gamma..

decisions decisions..

In what way do you mean your dairy herd is to young to build volume?

 

[Foregoneconclusion]

In what way do you mean your dairy herd is to young to build volume?

Over half of my herd is 1st lactation..my turnover of stock is too high..

Heifers peak at 30 to 35, cows peak at 35 -45..

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Over half of my herd is 1st lactation..my turnover of stock is too high..

Heifers peak at 30 to 35, cows peak at 35 -45..

I’ve never thought of it that way. I see what you mean by it though. It’s difficult to know how many heifers you will need what with the Tb situation.

 

[Treecreeper]

I've 7 IRs to test at the end of the month, 6 are 1st& 2nd calvers. A gi test is quite expensive as samples have to be next day couriered under climate control at my cost if done voluntarily. If I have a breakdown? the next whole herd test is likely to be a GI test at the ministrys expense. I'm waiting to see which way it goes. It used to be 60days for a IR to be GI ed to clear it as a for life IR, that has now been extended I believe any subsequent GI test will clear it.

 

[livestock 1]

How far out were the lumps on the IRs?

 

[Treecreeper]

In my case if we were under severe interpretation a couple would have been positive reactors.

 

[Headless chicken]

Try getting hold of tysul vets to do the milk test for Tb mossman is trialing as an unofficial data set. That should give you an idea of what you have left is actually got it in order to aid your decision.

 

[Sid]

Twist, have to gamma and get job sorted.

I know someone with 500 head, is clear been holding back barreners as had lesions in previous load sent 12 months ago.
Loaded up 10 had 3 with lesions 3 weeks ago, 6 month check test last week all clear.

Scared to do gamma now. I think APHA will make them do it.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

No you can voluntarily slaughter them as long as you let slaughter house know the are ir’s and they take them. If they come back clear from culture test or visual inspection at Abbatoir you will be clear

 

[Farmer Fin]

No you can voluntarily slaughter them as long as you let slaughter house know the are ir’s and they take them. If they come back clear from culture test or visual inspection at Abbatoir you will be clear

If you slaughter them all they will retest the whole herd even if the come back neg at slaughter.