Permitted delays to the removal of cattle for bovine TB control purposes

To prevent the spread of disease, the Wales TB Eradication Programme requires the removal of infected cattle within 10 working days. This includes:

• any skin test reactor
• any positive blood test
• inconclusive reactor for compulsory slaughter (compulsory IR), or
• direct contact animal identified by APHA as high-risk (DC) 

Usually, cattle are taken to an abattoir for slaughter. However, on-farm slaughter is used when they can't be transported. This could be due to welfare issues, or if the carcase is not fit for human consumption.

The slaughtering of cattle on farm for TB control purposes can cause distress. Particularly with heavily pregnant cows and heifers. Unfortunately, it is sometimes unavoidable.

From 4th November 2024, delays will be allowed beyond the normal 10 working day period for animal removal. Delays will be permitted when:

a cow or heifer is in-calf and within 60 days of calving, or has calved within the previous 7 days

an animal is nearing the end of a medicine withdrawal period. This would follow the use of a parasiticide, antibiotic or other routine drug used as a treatment. The delay would be a maximum of 5 working days

there are quickly resolvable minor identification or passport issues for a animal. The delay would be a maximum of 5 working days.

If an animal is due to calve within 60 days after being identified as a:

• reactor
• compulsory IR, or
• DC

a request may be submitted to APHA to postpone its slaughter until after calving. APHA will evaluate the risks associated with delaying removal. The keeper will need to meet specific conditions, before APHA will grant approval. Please see the Owner Declaration form TB212(W)/TB212(W)(Welsh)).

The keeper must provide:

• a written declaration (form TB212(W)/TB212(W)(Welsh)) that they will comply with the isolation conditions
• a declaration (form TB211(W)/TB211(W)(Welsh)) that the keeper can meet the conditions. This must be completed by a veterinarian of the keeper’s choice and at the keeper’s expense
• a pregnancy diagnosis declaration (form TR531) confirming that the animal is in the last 60 days of pregnancy. This must be completed by a veterinarian of the keeper’s choice and at the keeper’s expense

If APHA consents to a possible delay, all necessary forms must be submitted to APHA within 5 working days from the date they are sent. The option to request a delayed removal will expire if this deadline is not met. Then APHA will proceed to arrange for the animal to be slaughtered on farm.

The keeper must be aware of the following consequences when making that choice. This is so they can make an informed decision about whether to keep the animal for an extended period:

• subsequent Short Interval Tests will be delayed. They won’t take place until at least 60 days following the removal of the final reactor/DC/compulsory IR
• valuation will take place as normal. There will be no reduction in compensation because of the delayed removal
• if the animal dies or is culled for any reason before removal, then no compensation will be paid
• compensation payments will only be paid once all reactors are removed
• no movements on or off the premises other than to slaughter will be licenced whilst reactors remain on farm
• the keeper should inform APHA once the animal has calved. Removal to slaughter will be arranged once the animal is fit to travel. A newly calved animal cannot be transported for at least seven days

There is a real risk of disclosing large numbers of reactors which are heavily pregnant in dairy herds that block calve when herd tests are scheduled during the calving period. Minimising the number of animals late in-calf at the time of TB testing would reduce the number of cattle needing to be killed on-farm. Some farmers have successfully done this.

For cattle keepers facing inconvenient testing times (i.e. during block calving periods), certain tests may be conducted earlier than planned.

Further information on how keepers may avoid routine testing during block calving periods is available. 

Almost half of all animals slaughtered on farm have been medicated and are still within the medicine withdrawal period when they need to be removed for TB control purposes. The withdrawal period is the duration set by regulatory authorities between administering the final dose of veterinary medicine to an animal and allowing the animal or its food products into the food chain. This ensures that the food does not contain medication levels beyond the maximum residue limit.

Extended removal will be allowed for bovine animals close to completing their medicine withdrawal period, up to 5 working days. The keeper should note:

• the animal must be kept in isolation accommodation. This is in accordance with the legal requirements of the TB03 - Notice of Intent to Slaughter Bovine Animals. This notice requires isolation until slaughter and then slaughter of specified animals
• subsequent Short Interval Tests will be delayed. They won’t take place until at least 60 days after the removal of the final reactor/DC/compulsory IR

The numbers of animals having to be slaughtered on farm can be reduced by not administering routine medicinal treatments in the lead up to a scheduled TB test. This cannot be avoidedif the welfare of the animal would be compromised without medication, so some animals will fall into this category. But there is potential to reduce on farm slaughter.

There is further information on how to reduce the number of medicated animals needing to be slaughtered on farm.

Removal of a bovine animal can be delayed up to 5 working days for minor identification or passport issues which can be quickly resolved. The keeper should note:

• the animal must be kept in isolation accommodation. This is in accordance with the legal requirements of theTB03 - Notice of Intent to Slaughter Bovine Animals
• subsequent Short Interval Tests will be delayed. They won’t take place until at least 60 days following the removal of the final reactor/DC/compulsory IR