Whilst our staff will be able to offer advice regarding legislation, specific licensing requirements through DEFRA are prone to change and this can be implemented at short notice; as such we would encourage you always to check the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk) to check current legislation.
Disposal of older cattle
A review of the appropriate legislation for the disposal of cattle born before or after lst August 1996 is provided at this link.
Sole Occupancy Authority (SOA)
An SOA allows the movement of FMD susceptible livestock within and between grazings and premisies under single ownership or rental and recognised as a single farming unit even where more than one CPH numbers are involved.
Isolation facilities
An established, authorised and approved isolation facility on farm allows for the introduction of breeding rams or bulls without triggering a farm movement standstill.
Multiple pick-up and drop offs
This license permits an unlimited number of pick-ups from licenced premises and delivery to a single destination (market) or conversely, transit from a single point of origin to an unlimited number of drop offs (market to farm).
Different facilities may be specified in the licence, the licence allowing for either the use of tail gating or double penning.
Exports
Vets within the practice hold a number of additional qualifications allowing for certification of exports of breeding animals and animal by products but in each circumstance DEFRA should be contacted first regarding provision of an appropriate licence.
TB testing
This is carried out on a regular basis at intervals dependent on the parish in which you live. The tuberculosis skin test is an intradermal skin test which is used worldwide to identify infection with Mycobacterium bovis.
On 27th March 2007 pre-movement testing of cattle was introduced to help reduce the risk of spreading bTB between herds in areas previously free from disease.
All cattle over 42 days moving out of a one or two yearly tested herd must have a negative TB test within 60 days prior to movement. Owners must pay for these tests unless it coincides with a routine bTB surveillance test.
These rules apply to cattle movements to and from both grass keep and linked holdings.
In addition, further private TB tests can be arranged on request eg on introduction of a new breeding bull.