New Brucellosis Guidelines Released
NORTHERN IRELAND - With an eye on the Brucellosis eradication date of March 31, Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill has announced a revamped biosecurity protocol for controlling the disease.
5 April 2013
2 minute read
The Minister said that ‘excellent progress’ was being made but that there is no room for complacency. Herdsmen are being urged to ensure high biosecurity standards are observed on their farms so ultimately ‘Official Brucellosis Free’ status can be granted in 2015.
Describing the remit of the new guidelines the Minister said: “The statutory biosecurity guidance, which has been sent to all cattle herdkeepers in the north, brings together in one short document the statutory requirements for herdkeepers specifically in relation to brucellosis and the recommended key actions that they should take to protect their herd from the risk of the disease.”
“It sets out the existing legal requirements that herdkeepers must meet in respect of brucellosis, as well as the key actions that herdkeepers should take to ensure good biosecurity.”
Details include guidance about hygienic and prompt calf foetus and after-birth disposal and rules about how farmers should notify the divisional veterinary officer regarding outbreaks.
The guidelines also lay out advice about;
- Movement and grazing restrictions
- Purchasing and moving cattle from infected areas
- Spreading slurry from infected herds
- Sharing Bulls
While eradicating brucellosis is a great achievement the minister stressed that keeping the countryside brucellosis free is the greatest ambition and will require ‘vigilance’ from both the industry and regulators.
The government has stressed that failure to comply with the statutory guidance is admissible in civil or criminal proceedings.
TheCattleSite News Desk
