TB testing in28 degrees

[Hfd Cattle]

Surely there comes a time when it's becomes a welfare issue for TB testing in extreme heat .
We had the first of our 4 six monthly tests today . It was a nightmare . Cows refusing to move , calves stressed out , the heat was unbelievable.
.......or is it just OK
My OH works in an office one day a week, if the office is too hot they are told " in the interest of your welfare we re closing the office " .....and the same if its cold !!
....but cattle ......no it doesn't matter , let alone the poor vet ,who was struggling ,and us trying to get them up the race !

Just wondered what others think !

 

[Henarar]

I wouldn't want it today,
I think if you were not right near the end of your test window you could have spoken to the vet about moving the test ?

 

[twizzel]

We tested ours yesterday. Only took an hour and a half though so we started at 9. I’ve scribed on other tests for other farmers though in previous summers and come home with a migraine, not fun at all.

 

[Jasper]

Neighbour did there’s last week 2 good suck calves with broken legs worth a £ 1000 fookin madness

 

[Hfd Cattle]

I wouldn't want it today,
I think if you were not right near the end of your test window you could have spoken to the vet about moving the test ?

We were right at the end . Wanted it as late as possible to help the next one to be as late as possible .

 

[Skintagain]

We were right at the end . Wanted it as late as possible to help the next one to be as late as possible .

You should have had it in winter two weeks ago….

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

Had a nice heifer slip a calf after our test a couple of weeks ago

 

[Mad For Muck]

We had to do 56 highlands and I can firmly say it’s never happening again in that kind of heat. If they want to test us in the summer again they’re going to get told to come back in October. Surely there has to be some animal welfare issues trying to do it in that heat? Especially when reading above about broken legs, slipped calves etc

 

[Cotlandfarmer]

Would it have been possible to request the vet to start the test at say 5am to avoid the heat of the day?
Would have been more comfortable for all people and animals.

 

[Cocomac]

TB testing at the best of times is stressful enough but like you say it should either be done on a cooler day or early in the morning. The place I worked on in Australia used to move cows first thing to avoid the heat and let them take there own time about it, that would be too sensible for the uk.

 

[Yale]

Surely there should be rules for this under farm assurance?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

The complete opposite I know but we had a test in February a few years ago, Night before test reading it snowed heavy and the yards were frozen solid. Rang vets and said you won't get here in a car and was concerned for handling stock in less than ideal condition. Boss vet rang back and said if we don't read test they'll shut you down for 60 days and do test again. He got as close as he could with his car and walked the last 2 miles.
No tolerance from government bodies IMO

 

[Punch]

I agree completely @Hfd Cattle.
I think there is a min & max temp when livestock can’t be transported?
25 degrees springs to mind. The same welfare issues should apply to testing!

 

[Whitepeak]

Mrs Whitepeak works as a TB tester. She tested a 600 cow dairy herd in similar temperatures, with a crush in full sun a few years ago. She could barely see for sweat running down her face, and could tip sweat out of her wellies when they finished. But both she and the farmer were willing to get it done, and they had a good set up that minimised stress on the animals and handlers.

She says there is no leniency from APHA with regards weather conditions.
If you have jabbed, the animals must be read on day 2. Failure to do so results in an incomplete test and shut down. Obviously it's up to your tester as to how strict they are in wanting every animal through the crush
There's a bit more flexibility on jab day to stop and split the test if you feel it's not suitable to continue.
Most vets would be flexible on times to avoid the heat of the day, many test dairy herds at morning milking. Although you are meant to read within a 4hr window around the 72hrs from jabbing.

 

[Tomo23]

Forget wether it was last year or 22 but I remember doing a whole herd test with the mercury around 32. That was a long day.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Surely there comes a time when it's becomes a welfare issue for TB testing in extreme heat .
We had the first of our 4 six monthly tests today . It was a nightmare . Cows refusing to move , calves stressed out , the heat was unbelievable.
.......or is it just OK
My OH works in an office one day a week, if the office is too hot they are told " in the interest of your welfare we re closing the office " .....and the same if its cold !!
....but cattle ......no it doesn't matter , let alone the poor vet ,who was struggling ,and us trying to get them up the race !

Just wondered what others think !

Sorry, very confused.
First of 4, 6 monthly tests?
We are in the second half of the year so surely can't be the first test this year.
4 different holdings?

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Sorry, very confused.
First of 4, 6 monthly tests?
We are in the second half of the year so surely can't be the first test this year.
4 different holdings?

...yes we have 4 holdings all on 6 monthly testing

 

[lloyd]

...yes we have 4 holdings all on 6 monthly testing

Ah Massey said he'd had a load of work come in from your direction
because you were busy elsewhere.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Ah Massey said he'd had a load of work come in from your direction
because you were busy elsewhere.

Aye ....asked him to bale up the barley straw Tuesday...he turned up today!!

 

[BAF]

Got to love tb testing haven't you! Last summer we had an in calf cow drop dead after jabbing, she went back into the shed and had a heart attack. And it hasnt been a complete day testing youngstock if I havent had my feet stamped on - despite steel toes - and been kicked at least once.
The vets will test early in the day if you ask them, they start the big farms round here at 4am as they come out of the parlour. Our vets use vet techs rather than the vets to do all the testing, there's one particular tester that if he'd been scheduled to tb test on a day like yesterday you'd have rather failed the test than work with him all day. He is the slowest tester in the world which would be ok of he was any good but he's not!