Many of our pedigree beef and dairy clients are members of CHECS accreditation bodies
like SAC and Biobest to help them to achieve high health status for infectious diseases
like BVD, Johne’s disease, IBR, Leptospirosis and Neospora. Now there have
been changes made to the TB accreditation.
CHECS TB Entry Level Membership works on the principle that implementing a series
of easily-achievable biosecurity measures can reduce the risk of a TB breakdown. Although
TB risk can never be entirely eliminated, a British Cattle Veterinary Association
(BCVA) TB-Accredited Veterinary Advisor (BATVA) can help you understand what you
can do to start to mitigate that risk for your herd and build on those first steps thereafter.
The concept of good biosecurity is one based on science and evidence of routes
of transmission but these first steps are ones that all herd owners will see as common
sense, requiring little time, effort or financial investment. They cover a range of risk
categories and can be tailored to your business. The real value of CHECS TB Entry Level
Membership is the ongoing relationship between herd owner and veterinary surgeon,
and the ability to gradually build up herd resilience to this very damaging disease
through measures that suit your individual circumstances.
Practically this means that farmers undertake an annual assessment of biosecurity
measures with their veterinary surgeon and submit the completed form back to the
health scheme. All the vets in the practice are working to achieve TB-Accredited Veterinary
Advisor status or have already done this.
Although many of the biosecurity measures overlap with those of BVD and particular
Johne’s disease, there are a few TB specific requirements like:
Producing a simple map of badger activity on the farm for use throughout the
year, to record seasonal set use, runs and latrines. Where badger activity is identified
risk from contamination of water troughs and feed will have to be reduced
CHECS TB Herd Accreditation scores are herd-level and only apply to homebred
animals so cannot be used when selling animals that have been brought
into the herd
Post-movement skin testing of added animals is compulsory for members of
CHECS TB Herd Accreditation unless the animals have resided since birth in a
CHECS TB Herd Accredited score 10 herd where there is no statutory requirement
for pre-movement testing.
Other ruminants can be a source of infection for cattle and co-grazing is not permitted
(similar to Johne’s)
In the best interest of your herd we would strongly encourage you to discuss
this further with one of the vets.
Get in touch to find out more about how we can help you
