TB PRE-MOVEMENT TESTING RULES
ALL STORE CATTLE OVER 42 DAYS (6 WEEKS) OLD MUST BE TB PRE-MOVEMENT TESTED
Truro Livestock Market operates a separate exempt section which accepts tested as well as untested finished cattle and slaughter cows.
Calves which are up to and including 42 days old on the day of sale are also exempt from the regulations as are store cattle from 3 and 4 year test holdings.
Store cattle and calves which are under 42 days old on the day of sale are also exempt from the regulations as are cattle from 3 and 4 year test holdings.
Store cattle which are over 42 days old and are from 1 and 2 year test holdings must have been tested within 60 days of the sale date.
Producers are required to use entry forms available from the Auctioneers and to declare in writing to the Auctioneers the date of testing.
Cattle will not be accepted unless they are presented to the market with an Entry Form showing a current TB test date.
CATTLE ENTRY FORMS AND FARM ASSURANCE
Animals will be assumed non-Farm Assured if entry forms do not include stickers or if stickers are not affixed alongside the signature boxes on the passports.
Vendors also need to be aware that different Farm Assurance schemes apply to different classes of livestock. Penalties can apply if cattle are incorrectly described with regard to their Assurance status.
Farm Assurance continues to be crucial. There are a number of schemes available to producers to gain Assurance and if information or assistance is required please contact Bob Mosley.
EARTAGS
Cows with only one eartag, i.e. born 1st September 1996 to 1st January 1998, are regularly condemned if the Food Standards Agency at the abattoirs decide they are worn and all letters and numbers are not legible. It is therefore recommended that even these older cows are double tagged for ease of reading.
FIELDSMAN SERVICE
FREE on/off Farm Livestock Advice Service is available.
Please contact the Auctioneer's offices for appointments or further information.