Stirling Bull Sales

[Northeastfarmer]

Do you buy in cattle to finish?

Yes....suckled calves, as well as my own

 

[M-J-G]

Yes....suckled calves, as well as my own

That may be adding to you having to do a test.

 

[Cowgirl]

We are exempt - closed herd, only sending direct to abattoir.

 

[top char]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=773835092964164

some very nice bulls amongst this lot

This must have been Friday night was it?! Before my banner went up anyway!

 

[juke]

This must have been Friday night was it?! Before my banner went up anyway!

think it was the sunday night the society put that up

 

[liammogs]

I know tb1 bulls come from a higher risk area etc, but surely it should really be better to buy from a herd that is testing for tb more regular than a herd that is a lot lower eg tb4, a tb4 herd could have TB spread throughout the herd if it's not caught early enough as to a farmer testing every year, some every 6months and not found a case of tb

 

[M-J-G]

I know tb1 bulls come from a higher risk area etc, but surely it should really be better to buy from a herd that is testing for tb more regular than a herd that is a lot lower eg tb4, a tb4 herd could have TB spread throughout the herd if it's not caught early enough as to a farmer testing every year, some every 6months and not found a case of tb

TB1s are TB1 because of risk due to location in relation to where the disease is being found. Testing more regularly wont find the disease if it isn't there.
If it is there it is unlikely to be on one farm alone and will be picked up in the parish and/or through monitoring carried out at slaughter.
If the TB1 was lower risk it would become a TB4.

TB1 that is in the same county as positive cases or TB4 who's neighbour tested 6 months ago and another neighbour tested a year ago and are 150 miles from the closest positive case, I know which I'd be guessing to be the safest bet.
If this is incorrect, the badger theory has holes in it.

 

[CharcoalWally]

As @M-J-G says above, and , in our TB4 parish , the testing programme is staggered through the local herds. A certain % of herds are tested every year through the 4 year cycle. It's not the case that all herds are tested once in four years. Plus slaughter inspection.

 

[Agrivator]

Bulls from TB1 and TB4 areas at all major pedigree sales are mixed together for up to at least 3 days in close proximity, and in conditions ideal for the spread of TB.

I presume therefore that Bulls from TB1 areas are regarded as being of no risk whatsoever. Which means that those of us in TB4 areas can buy Bulls from TB1 areas with complete confidence.

What is of more concern is that even though EBVs of individual bulls show them to be below average in calving ease and 200-day milk yield, the vendors both verbally and in writing state that: '' his calves just pop out and he is from a very milky line.

And at Carlisle, the £50,000 gns bull had no displayed EBV figures, and a search on Taurus showed that his EBVs are below average for most traits.

 

[M-J-G]

Bulls from TB1 and TB4 areas at all major pedigree sales are mixed together for up to at least 3 days in close proximity, and in conditions ideal for the spread of TB.

I presume therefore that Bulls from TB1 areas are regarded as being of no risk whatsoever. Which means that those of us in TB4 areas can buy Bulls from TB1 areas with complete confidence.

What is of more concern is that even though EBVs of individual bulls show them to be below average in calving ease and 200-day milk yield, the vendors both verbally and in writing state that: '' his calves just pop out and he is from a very milky line.

And at Carlisle, the £50,000 gns bull had no displayed EBV figures, and a search on Taurus showed that his EBVs are below average for most traits.

If 3 days in the same shed will spread TB amongst cattle what's all the badger thing about?
Animals from higher risk areas will either have been pre movement tested and/or will be isolated after purchase until tested.

As for EBVs, how well recorded are the bulls, EBVs are one thing but what they are based on is another.

I bought a bull once that was bottom 5% of his breed for calving and I don't think I touched a calf off him apart from the odd malpresentation.

His EBVs were simply wrong!
It happens.

 

[Henarar]

Bulls from TB1 and TB4 areas at all major pedigree sales are mixed together for up to at least 3 days in close proximity, and in conditions ideal for the spread of TB.

I presume therefore that Bulls from TB1 areas are regarded as being of no risk whatsoever. Which means that those of us in TB4 areas can buy Bulls from TB1 areas with complete confidence.

cattle don't tend to spread TB to each other that easy
@matthew

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

I find it interesting how farmers from tb4 areas have very knowledgeable views on how Tb spreads and how good testing it

 

[M-J-G]

I find it interesting how farmers from tb4 areas have very knowledgeable views on how Tb spreads and how good testing it

Education and fear of bringing it in.

Being from NI and having a whole herd culled due to TB improves awareness too.

So far I've not had a Johnes positive, but I'm betting I'll know as much or more about the disease than most who have Johnes on their farms.

How come you ask?