Herd sampling requirements:
follow the links below to view a summary of the sampling requirements
- Monitoring (dairy only)
- Screening and Eradication
- Accredited free
- Vaccinated monitored free (BVDV-only)
- BVDV testing using PCR
Full details are given in the Technical document.
CHeCS Technical Document
Biosecurity
- Biosecurity is an important part of all except the monitoring program, to prevent accidental introduction of infection into herds.
- General guidelines are given in the Biosecurity Code for Northern Ireland Farms (DARD 2004).
- The CHeCS technical document gives full details of the rules of the scheme, including the biosecurity requirements
- Accredited status is specific to each disease
- The main requirements relate to:
- Double fencing (3m) at boundaries for BVD and IBR
- Isolation facility required for quarantine procedures for:
- The addition of bought cattle (from herds of lower status)
- The reintroduction of cattle that have had contact with non-accredited cattle requires a dedicated building or separate paddock.
- Test on farm of origin and 28 days post-arrival, or:
- Test on arrival and 28 days later (4 months for Johne’s result)
- Testing of sick cattle that may have a disease that is the target of a scheme
- For Johne’s/Leptospirosis, preferable to use mains water or have no cattle/sheep grazing upstream
- Sheep and cattle ideally should not graze together (2 month interval for Leptospirosis before cattle follow sheep)
- Farm equipment, transport, handling facilities etc disinfected before use if shared with non-health scheme cattle/herds
- Surgical equipment sterilized between herds
- No sharing of needles between herds
- Delivery and pickup points isolated from other cattle
- Good hygiene/disinfection of visitors
- Caution when buying feed and bedding to avoid introduction of infection
- Feed and bedding protected from vermin
- Colostrum from lower status herds not used