Breakdown Investigation and Disease Prevention

What Disease Investigations Will DAERA Carry Out?

At the start of the breakdown the Patch Vet will look in detail at movements in and out of your herd to see if they can establish where infection might have come from and spread to. This process is called tracing. Based on their findings they may also place restrictions on other herds or individual animals and set further testing.

The Animal Health and Welfare Inspector (AHWI) for your area will also contact you to arrange a visit to your farm. This visit will include looking at mapping and assessing biosecurity. They will also ask you about your cattle purchasing, grazing and management procedures, animal groupings and any potential wildlife sources on your farm. This information will be used by the Patch Vet to inform their decision making and testing requirements for other neighbouring herds.

Samples from each confirmed OTW breakdown are sent for culture and genetic strain typing. Strain typing results take several months to come back but can also provide the Patch vet with useful information on the likely source of the infection.

The Patch Vet or AHWI may contact you at various stages during the breakdown if they require further information. You may also contact the local office if you want to speak to them.

What Can I Do to Reduce the Risk of Further Infection in My Cattle?

It is possible to reduce your risk of disease by implementing common sense biosecurity measures. Please consult our TB biosecurity leaflet, a copy of which can be obtained from your local DAERA Direct Office, or on our website.

Good biosecurity can also be discussed with the AHWI during the mapping visit and the Patch Vet or your own private veterinary practitioner (PVP).

Here is a brief overview of some measures that can be helpful:

• If you must purchase cattle, try to do so directly from a known source and avoid cattle that may have been frequently moved. Take particular care about the origin of breeding cattle, as these animals may be the core of your herd for some time. If possible, isolate after purchase and ask your veterinary surgeon to carry out a tuberculin test on the animal(s). (Your veterinary surgeon will need to obtain permission from DAERA to perform this test; and you will be responsible for paying the fee).
• Bought-in beef store cattle for finishing should be kept separately from your breeding stock.
• Minimise contact with badgers, fence off badger setts and latrines to prevent access by cattle. Avoid grazing fields which contain badger setts, if possible. Raise troughs and drinkers to prevent badgers getting access; prevent badger access to farm buildings, feed and feedstores (including silage pits).
• Try to maintain good boundaries that prevent contact with neighbouring cattle, or don’t graze cattle in adjacent fields.
• Avoid sharing equipment, vehicles, etc. with other farmers.
• Do not use slurry or manure from other herds on your land.

Remember good biosecurity will also reduce the risk to your herd from other diseases, not just TB.