Notification of Bovine Births
Births and tagging must be notified to the Department within 27 days of birth or before movement, whichever is the earlier.
Notification of LIVE CALVES.
All living calves, must be identified with an approved all-numeric tag in each ear, one of the tags being enabled for BVD sampling as follows:
• Within 36 hours of birth in the case of a dairy herd; and
• Within 20 days of birth in herds other than dairy herds.
Births and tagging must be notified to the Department within 27 days of birth or before movement, whichever is the earlier, by using in order of preference:
- DAERA Online Services, or
- Telephony, 0300 200 7855, or
- Completing Section A of a MC1 form and submitting it to your local DAERA Direct Office.
Example of a MC1 - notification of births and deaths of bovine animals
Births not notified to DAERA within 27 days will result in an NNO status (No Notification of Birth) being applied to the animal on NIFAIS.
This status restricts the movement of the animal and may affect its eligibility for slaughter and subsidy payments.
Notification of ABORTED AND STILLBORN CALVES.
The legal definition of a stillborn calf is one which is born dead at full term or which dies within 24 hours of birth.
All aborted or stillborn calves must be identified with at least one approved all-numeric tag which must be enabled for BVD sampling. If not inserted in the carcass the second tag must be destroyed.
N.B. Abortions and stillbirths must be notified to DAERA using one of the three methods above as soon as possible. In these cases, the dam may be tested for Brucellosis.
Related Legislation
The Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Eradication Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2016
Brucellosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2004