Statutory Biosecurity

Guidance for Brucellosis

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TB & Brucellosis Policy Branch
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Room 650
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Ballymiscaw
BELFAST
BT4 3SB
Tel: (028) 9052 5479
Fax: (028) 9052 4305
Email: TBBR.Policybranch@dardni.gov.uk
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 1
What is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the word used to describe the common-sense steps we all take to reduce
the spread of disease. Good biosecurity is vital to help prevent the risk of brucellosis to
your herd and to help eradicate this disease.
What is Brucellosis?
Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease of cattle and other animals, which often results
in abortions and infertility. The disease is spread by contact with infected female animals;
an infected aborted foetus; or discharged placental tissues and fuids from an infected
animal. It can be spread to animals and humans that come into contact with an infected
animal at the time of calving. Breeding bulls can also become infected and then spread the
disease amongst females via infected semen.
What is the Defnition of an Abortion?
An abortion is legally defned in Article 2 of the Brucellosis Control Order (Northern Ireland)
2004 (as amended) (the 2004 Control Order) as any bovine foetus or calf born dead or
which dies within 24 hours of birth.
The Herdkeepers Responsibility
The guidance
1
brings together in one short document the statutory requirements for
herdkeepers in relation to brucellosis specifcally and the recommended key actions that
they should take to protect their herd from risk of brucellosis. Herdkeepers have a vital role in
eliminating the threat of brucellosis. Therefore you should read the following advice carefully.
Table 1 explains what you must do by law;
Table 2 explains the key actions that you should take to ensure good biosecurity
on your farm; and
Table 3 sets out some further useful biosecurity advice for brucellosis.
It is important to note that:
Table 1 of this guidance summarises the existing legal requirements on herdkeepers in
relation to control of brucellosis. Herdkeepers are reminded that failure to follow the
existing statutory requirements set out in Table 1 (with the exception of requirement number
3 in respect of animal by-products) may result in some, or all, of a herdkeepers
compensation being withheld if their animals become infected with brucellosis.
The advice set out in Table 2 and in Table 3 does not place any additional legal requirements
on herdkeepers but highlights important steps that you should take to reduce the risk of
brucellosis on your farm.
Failure to comply with this guidance is admissible in evidence in any civil or criminal
proceedings and a Court may take account of any failure to act in accordance with it in
deciding any question in all such proceedings.
For additional advice on biosecurity you should also refer to the voluntary Biosecurity
Code for Northern Ireland Farms
2
, which was developed by the Department in conjunction
with key stakeholders in 2004.
1
As provided for by the Diseases of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Biosecurity
Guidance (Specifcation of Brucellosis) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010 No. 176)
2
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/biosecurity-code-booklet.htm
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 2
Statutory Requirements
(As provided for by Article 18(6) of the Diseases of Animals
(Northern Ireland) Order 1981, failure to follow these statutory
requirements (with the exception of requirement number 3 in
respect of animal by-products) may result in some, or all, of your
compensation being withheld if your animals become infected with
brucellosis)
Relevant
Legislation
1 Notify a Divisional Veterinary Offce as soon as possible if you:
a. have an animal which is affected or suspected of being affected
with brucellosis; or
b. know or suspect that an animal in your herd has been exposed
to the possibility of infection with brucellosis.
Article 3(1) of
the 2004 Control
Order
2 Notify a Divisional Veterinary Offce as soon as possible if you
know or have reason to suspect that any animal in your herd has
had an abortion.
(An abortion means any bovine foetus or calf born dead or which
dies within 24 hours of birth)
Article 4(1) of
the 2004 Control
Order
3 Ensure that animal by-products (including fallen stock, foetuses
and afterbirths) are collected, transported and disposed of without
undue delay (as soon as is reasonably practical, taking account
of the circumstances) in accordance with animal by-products
legislation.
Regulation (EC)
No. 1069/2009
Animal
By-Products
(Enforcement)
Regulations (NI)
2011
4 Immediately house in isolation any animal that aborts and retain
it in isolation until the Department has tested it and informed the
herdkeeper that it may rejoin the herd.
Articles 4(3) and
(4) of the 2004
Control Order
5 When an abortion has taken place, liberally spray the area where
the abortion took place with an approved disinfectant as soon as
possible.
Article 4(3) of
the 2004 Control
Order
6 Ensure that manure containing discharges or fuids from an animal
that has had an abortion is stored away from access by livestock
for at least 6 months and not spread on grazing felds for at least
12 months.
Article 4(5) of
the 2004 Control
Order
7 Animals (except steers) over 12 months old should not be moved
(except direct to slaughter or from a market, show or exhibition)
unless they:
a. have reacted negatively to a pre-movement test on a sample
taken during the 30 days prior to the date of movement; or
b. are moved under and in accordance with the conditions of a
licence issued by the Department.
(NB This requirement also applies to animals moving to or from
overwintering premises)
Article 5(2) of
the 2004 Control
Order
Table 1 - Statutory Requirements relating to Brucellosis
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 3
8 Maintain fencing dividing a holding from adjoining land in such
condition as to prevent:
a. contact between the herd and animals on adjoining land; or
b. the herd from straying from the holding.
Article 10(1) of
the 2004 Control
Order
9 Where a reactor is found in any herd, the keeper of the herd shall
take all practical precautions to prevent the infection of animals
kept on adjoining lands by contact with animals from that holding.
Article 10(2) of
the 2004 Control
Order
10 Comply with any notice served by the Department prohibiting
grazing on all or part of the holding for a period of up to 6 months
by animals other than steers.
Article 11 of the
2004 Control
Order
11 Do not bring on to any holding on which a herd is kept any milk
or dairy by-products for feeding to livestock kept on the holding
except when the milk or dairy by-product -
a. comes from a holding not subject to a restriction notice;
b. has been converted into powdered form; or
c. has been boiled or pasteurised.
Article 12 of the
2004 Control
Order
12 Comply with any notice served by the Department regarding the
cleansing and disinfection of any holding, equipment, appliance,
utensil, etc.
Article 13 of the
2004 Control
Order
13 Cleanse and disinfect vehicles used for the transport of animals,
carcases, litter or dung in accordance with any notice served by
the Department.
Article 14 of the
2004 Control
Order
14 Present animals or carcases for brucellosis testing when required
by the Department.
Paragraph 3(2) of
the Schedule to
the Brucellosis
(Examination and
Testing) Scheme
Order (Northern
Ireland) 2004
15 Do not, except with the prior permission of the Department, move
or attempt to move or cause or permit to be moved any animal off
a holding -
a. while it is undergoing an offcial test; or
b. where a sample taken in the course of such testing is submitted
to an approved laboratory for testing,
until the result of any such test is notifed to you by the
Department.
Paragraph 4 of
the Schedule to
the Brucellosis
(Examination and
Testing) Scheme
Order (Northern
Ireland) 2004
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 4
Key Actions When you
should adhere
to this Key
Action
1 Dispose of foetuses and afterbirths promptly and hygienically,
keeping material secure and contained until disposal.
At all times
2 Do not move animals into your herd from a herd under brucellosis
restriction.
At all times
3 Do not share housing with herds under brucellosis restriction. At all times
4 Do not share common grazing with a herd under brucellosis
restriction.
At all times
5 Do not use or share bulls from a herd under brucellosis restriction. At all times
6 Do not allow animals to graze on other herdowners land which is
under brucellosis restriction.
At all times
7 Do not house animals on other herdowners premises which are
under brucellosis restriction.
At all times
8 Do not use vehicles or equipment that have been in contact with
animals from a herd under brucellosis restriction.
At all times
9 Do not use or spread slurry from a herd under brucellosis
restriction without permission from the Department.
At all times
10 Do not purchase or use silage or feed from a herdkeeper whose
premises are under brucellosis restriction without permission from
the Department.
At all times
11 Do not allow a herdkeeper with brucellosis infection in his/her herd
to have contact with your animals.
At all times
12 Do not work with any other herdkeepers animals that are under
brucellosis restriction.
At all times
13 Do not sell silage, feed or milk without permission from the
Department.
(Milk from restricted herds can go for pasteurisation but milk from
animals showing a positive reaction to tests for brucellosis or any
symptoms of the disease must be withheld).
1) When the
Department
has notifed
you that your
herd is at
risk; or
2) when your
herd is
restricted.
Table 2 - Key Actions that Herdkeepers Should Take
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 5
14 Do not share bulls with other herds. 1) When the
Department
has notifed
you that your
herd is at
risk; or
2) when your
herd is
restricted.
15 Seek advice from your local Divisional Veterinary Offce or private
veterinary surgeon in all cases where abortions may have occurred
or fertility is problematic.
At all times
Table 3 - Further Useful Biosecurity Advice for Brucellosis
Recommended Actions
1 Calve cows in isolation, especially animals calving in the herd for the frst time.
2 Ensure calving pens are cleansed and disinfected regularly.
3 Avoid overwintering animals in accommodation shared with other herdkeepers cattle.
4 Enquire about the present and past disease status of herds from which you
are purchasing or when taking grazing from any herdkeeper and avoid purchasing
animals from:
a) herds in an area designated by the Department as high risk
1
or
b) herds where you may have reason to believe that there is a suspicion of brucellosis
infection.
5 When purchasing animals from outside Northern Ireland, give due consideration
to the disease risks involved
2
.
1
The Department will identify areas of high risk by reference to townlands where there is more than one
herd with a confrmed outbreak of brucellosis. This information can be made available at the request of
prospective purchasers by their local Divisional Veterinary Offce.
2
The local Divisional Veterinary Offce can advise on the disease risks of purchasing animals from specifc
countries.
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 6
Defnitions of Terms Used in this Guidance
abortion means any bovine foetus or calf born dead or which dies within 24 hours of
birth (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
animal means a bovine animal (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
approved disinfectant means a disinfectant for the time being approved by the
Department under the Diseases of Animals (Approval of Disinfectants) Order (Northern
Ireland) 1972 (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
at risk, in relation to a herd, means a herd which has been designated by the
Department, in writing, as having a high probability of being exposed to brucellosis;
breakdown herd means a herd where at least one animal has confrmed brucellosis;
bull means a mature male animal which has not been castrated;
carcase means the carcase of an animal (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
cow means a mature female animal;
Department means the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;
herd means
(a) an animal kept, or
(b) a group of animals kept, managed or housed together (see Article 2 of the 2004
Control Order);
herdkeeper means any person or organisation responsible for animals, whether on
a permanent or temporary basis, including during transportation or at a market
(see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
high risk, in relation to an area, means an area identifed by the Department and
defned by reference to townlands, where there is more than one herd with confrmed
brucellosis;
holding means any establishment, construction or, in the case of an open-air farm,
place in which animals are held, kept or handled and includes land with or without
buildings (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
livestock means any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or
(excluding a dog) for use in the farming of land (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
market means a market place, sale yard or other premises or place in or upon which
animals are exhibited for the purpose of public sale (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control
Order);
Statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis
Page 7
offcial test means a test to determine whether or not an animal is diseased and
includes
(a) a test carried out in an approved laboratory on a sample of blood or milk from an
animal in accordance with Annex C of Council Directive 64/432/EEC;
(b) such other test carried out on an animal or sample therefrom, as the Department
may require. (See the Brucellosis (Examination and Testing) Scheme Order (Northern
Ireland) 2004);
pasteurised means retained at a temperature of not less than 145 Fahrenheit and not
more than 150 Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes or at a temperature of not less than 162
Fahrenheit for at least 15 seconds (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
pre-movement test means in the case of any animal an offcial test carried out in
accordance with Annex C of Council Directive 64/432/EEC by a laboratory approved
by the Department for those purposes on a sample taken from it in accordance with
Article 5 (5) of the Brucellosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2004 (See Article 5 of the
Brucellosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2004);
restricted means a herd which is subject to a notice (Form BT40) served under
Article 8(1) of the 2004 Control Order and which, amongst other things, may require the
herdkeeper to prohibit the movement of any animal to or from the holding on which the
herd is kept;
reactor means an animal which has undergone an offcial test, the result of which shall
give the Department reason to believe that the animal is probably affected with brucellosis
(see Article 2 of the 2004 Control Order);
steer means a male animal which has been castrated (see Article 2 of the 2004 Control
Order).
A list of Divisional Veterinary Offces can be found by visiting the Departments website -
www.dardni.gov.uk/veterinary-service.
DMS 12.13.148
ISBN 978-1-84807-362-3