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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:50 pm
by nuttalls
we got our 1st dexters 2004,last year we had to av a new herd tb test! and nextweek we av to av our 2nd new herd tb test! has this happened to anyone else? we r in a 4 year parish. But defra r adamant we av this done 3 years on the run :;): Confused but oh well the BIG roundup!!
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:04 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
I am at home just now so cannot have a quick squint at the regs, but they are different for new herds to the other herds in the same area. When animals have been moved and mixed there is always increased risk, and though it may seem a nuisance it is extra protection for yourselves and your stock.
Duncan
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:33 pm
by domsmith
as a new herd you will have 3 yearly tests before you revert to your parish test interval.
its a pain in the arse, and causes huge disruption, i was so glad not to have that to look forward to, on the last occasion one of our neighbours was cornered by a cow that almost killed him. his dog had been helping bring the cows in and this particular old girl wanted her revenge, and it was only luck that saved his life.
but you have another one to come next year!
dom
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:24 pm
by paul c
Hi I am in the same position as you and have my third tb test this friday, just got all the animals in to one field to get ready, not looking forward to it as they are a bit flighty going through the crush.
regards Paul
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:42 am
by bjreroberts
On the positive side, when you are starting if you don't have your own bull you can use it as an opportunitiy to manipulate the date of the test to coincide with when you want to send a cow to the bull.
Edited By bjreroberts on 1224142963
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:04 am
by Rutherford
Count your blessings, I am in a hot spot and have to endure the trauma every year on a permanent basis
Beryl (Woodmagic)
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:20 am
by Issy
We have only had dexters for 4 years now, so last year was the 3rd yr on a row for tests and having breathed a sigh of relief in August that we don't have to do it until next year (2 year testing in area) and we have just had a letter from defra as someone local has obviously had an outbreak so we have been upped to 12 monthly testing 
.
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:58 pm
by ngr2804
Rutherford wrote:Count your blessings, I am in a hot spot and have to endure the trauma every year on a permanent basis
Beryl (Woodmagic)
Me too for at least 10 years and we were bi-annual before that. Plus I moved house last year so had two tests in 1 year.
Nick
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:17 pm
by nuttalls
ngr2804 wrote:Rutherford wrote:Count your blessings, I am in a hot spot and have to endure the trauma every year on a permanent basis
Beryl (Woodmagic)
Me too for at least 10 years and we were bi-annual before that. Plus I moved house last year so had two tests in 1 year.
Nick
oh ek sorry beryl n nick. wont moan agen about tb. shud be glad its 4 years. jean jordeth 
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:16 pm
by jem
And I thought it was only me (as a new owner) that dreaded these! It seems all you experienced people do too.
My cow is due her 2nd "new owner" test in a couple of weeks even though I bought her from only 3 miles away!
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:00 pm
by Pennielea
Here in N.Ireland we have annual TB testing as standard. If there is a nearby failure it becomes every three months until everything is clear for a year. In addition we have annual Brucellosis testing and BR testing prior to any movement e.g. taking an animal to a show.
The Dexters have an instinct and know that it is not a routine move and become extremely difficult to get into the pens. They can also count the three day period and are totally impossible to get back in for the reading without extra electric fences.
Ian
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:19 pm
by Rutherford
My vet tells me that dogs out on a walk with their owners are still suspicious of him. My Dexters always know when you have designs on them. I always try to combine a vet’s visit with their routine trip indoors or I know I am going to have a thoroughly exasperating time trying to round them up.
Beryl (Woodmagic)
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:53 am
by paul c
Got through my test yesterday without to many problems, one steer decided to put his leg up over the side of the crush so had to be injected on the other side, another calf decided he wanted to be in the crush with his mum pushing past me to get in there, quite a feet as it's only a small crush. the last calf to come through decided he was having none of that put his head under the gate lifted it of it's hindges and made his escape. last to go was the bull Woodmagic Mole 4th who went in with 2 of us pushing from behind and a bucket of feed up front but once in was good as gold. lets hope the retest on monday goes aswell
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:50 pm
by Broomcroft
I am told by a specialist TB vet, that the test itself can give the animal an almost harmless condition which is called Skin TB. He described it as not quite as harmful as warts, but the problem is that it shows up as a result and the animal could then be classified as having TB and slaughtered. Or it could be inconclusive, and then if inconclusive again will be slaughtered. How often this happens, who knows?
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:40 pm
by redhill
We have just learned by experience that when you sell a Dexter (or any other breed ) even though it goes clear at a pre movement test, if it is pre movement tested again within 8 months of leaving its original holding and reacts, the original holding has to have a complete herd test,
We sold a steer which was over summered on a farm in a TB hot spot, when they wanted to move him he reacted this was 6 months after he left our holding ,
now we have to go through the trauma of a whole herd test,
even though we have never had a reactor in the 13 yrs we have had the herd,and we test yearly, Sue Castlemears herd