Pre-movement FAQ
Scotland 
There is a legal requirement for all cattle over 42 days old that move from a 1 or 2 yearly tested parish to be pre-movement tested before they move from or enter any Scottish herd and to be post-movement tested between 60 -120 days on their arrival in a Scottish herd.
England & Wales 
There is a legal requirement for all cattle moving out of a 1 or 2 yearly test herd must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days prior to the movement (unless they are subject to specific exemptions).
From 1 March 2007 , all cattle over 42 days of age will require a pre-movement test.
Exemptions for England & Wales
- Cattle in herds subject to 3 or 4 yearly testing.
- Cattle in herds that would be subject to 3 or 4 yearly testing, if it was not increased for reasons of public health (e.g. open farms, AI centres, producers who sell unpasturised milk).
- Cattle under 42 days of age.
- Cattle moving off a premises within 30 days of arrival.
- Cattle moving directly to:
- Slaughter;
- Slaughter markets;
- Approved TB finishing units;
- Approved TB collection centres;
- Exempt Finishing Units;
- 'Exempt' Markets - special markets approved for cattle that have not been pre-movement tested (but are not exempt from pre-movement testing), subject to their onward movement direct to slaughter, back to the premises of origin or direct to an approved or exempt finishing unit;
- Agricultural shows (subject to their return to the premises of origin).
- Cattle moving for veterinary treatment.
- Cattle moving within a SOA.
- Cattle moving between premises sharing rights of the same common.
- Cattle moving under specific written exemption granted by a DVM.
Copies of Test Charts
- Who provides a copy of the test chart?
- At what stage should a copy of the chart be given to the farmer, and by whom (LVI or Animal Health)?
- When selling cattle at markets, do herd owners have to provide copies of test charts to the new owners?
- Will I receive a certificate from the LVI stating my cattle have been TB tested?
Exempt Finishing Units and Exempt Markets
- What is an exempt finishing unit?
- How do you apply for an EFU?
- What is an exempt market?
- Where will these markets be held?
- Where can I obtain the conditions and forms for the Exempt Finishing Units and Exempt Markets?
Hire Bulls
- With regards to hire bulls, who's responsible for arranging and paying for the pre-movement test?
- With the herd owner being responsible for the pre-movement test costs. What would happen if the hire bull stays on the farm longer than 60 days? Before it can be moved else where it would need a test. Would the owner be expected to get his LVI to travel to the farm where the animal is currently? What if it's in another part of the country? Should the owner and person hiring sort out the logistics themselves?
- Are Bull Hirers, Heifer Rearers & Dealers exempt from testing like Producer Retailers if they are in 3 or 4 yearly parishes and their herd-testing interval is annual?
- What if I wanted to check test my bull, if clear move it to another farm, then move it on again still within 60 days of that initial test. Will this be possible if the bull is at the other farm for more than 30 days, but less than 60 from the test? Or will another test be necessary before the bull can move on again, even though it will be within 60 days of its last test?
Sole Occupancy Authorities (SOAs)
30 Day Exemption
BCMS/CPH linked movements
- Animals remaining under the same ownership but are moved on a tack basis for winter housing or summer grazing etc. Will they be required to be pre movement tested?
- If a premise has a BCMS link, will cattle need to be tested while going between these two premises?
- If a cow is moving between premises within the same parish and both are on annual or bi- annual testing, would it need to be tested?
- If moving between premises with the same ownership but different holding numbers, wouldn't these also need a pre movement test?
General
- Can herd owners add animals to any TB test carried out?
- If a farmer does not have an LVI practice and has all their testing done by Animal Health, should they require a pre-movement test would they be able to ask Animal Health to do it for them or must they source an LVI to do it on their behalf?
- What if a herd owner is not happy with the cost of a pre-movement test?
Copies of Test Charts
Who provides a copy of the test chart?
If LVIs carry out TB tests, then they are required to provide copies of the test chart to the owner (provided it is a clear test and the herd is not under movement restrictions).
If Animal Health staff complete a TB test and it is clear then Animal Health are required to provide a copy of the test chart to the owner.
Herd owners are advised to retain this test chart as evidence of pre-movement testing for 3 years and 60 days following the date of the injection of tuberculin.
At what stage should a copy of the chart be given to the farmer, and by whom (LVI or Animal Health)?
The LVI practice should provide a copy of the clear test chart to the farmer once it has been written up, if they carry out the test. If an Animal Health TVI or VO carries out a test then the AHDO should provide a copy of the test to the farmer.
When selling cattle at markets, do herd owners have to provide copies of test charts to the new owners?
This is a commercial decision for the herd owner. When selling through a market, market officials may choose to gather and distribute copies of TB test charts to provide buyers with more information.
Will I receive a certificate from the LVI stating my cattle have been TB tested?
All herd owners not under movement restrictions will receive a copy of the TB test chart for any clear TB test, from either the LVI or Animal Health where appropriate. If individual cattle certification is required by the herd owner, this would be a private arrangement between the herd owner and LVI, which may be subject to an additional charge.
Animal Health will be unable to provide individual certificates for cattle tested in routine tests carried out by them, however, if required a herd owner is able to obtain this certification from any other LVI, under the principles of veterinary certification.
What if I lose the test chart provided by my LVI? Should I contact my LVI for another copy?
If you lose a test chart you should contact your LVI in the first instance, who should be able to provide a copy. LVIs have been informed of this responsibility and the need to keep copies of test charts at the practice.
Exempt Finishing Units and Exempt Markets
What is an exempt finishing unit?
Exempt finishing units are discrete, self-contained cattle units, isolated from other cattle herds and wildlife, that can be set up to provide a route for beef producers to finish animals without the need to pre-movement test. They will be able to accept animals that would normally need pre-movement testing without those animals being tested. These units must meet strict conditions designated to reduce the potential risk of disease spread from the premises and they will need to be approved by the herd owners' local DVM.
How do you apply for an EFU?
Please contact your local Animal Health Office for further information.
What is an exempt market?
Exempt markets are markets that have been established specifically for the sale of cattle moving from 1 or 2 yearly tested herds that have not been pre-movement tested when they should have been. These markets will enable competitive trade of such non pre-movement tested cattle. Onward movement from exempt markets must be to one of the following:
- Direct to Slaughter
- The premises of origin
- A TB approved finishing unit or
- A TB exempt finishing unit
Cattle that are eligible to be pre-movement tested but which have not been pre-movement tested can also be sold through dedicated slaughter markets.
Where will these markets be held?
Please contact your local market operator to see if they are holding an exempt market, or contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office for further information.
Where can I obtain the conditions and forms for the Exempt Finishing Units and Exempt Markets?
You need to contact your local AHDO for further information.
Hire Bulls
Herd owners who hire out bulls are subject to the same pre-movement testing requirements and exemptions as all other herd owners. It is important to remember that the key factor for determining eligibility for pre-movement testing is to consider the herd-testing interval of the departure herd.
With regards to hire bulls, who's responsible for arranging and paying for the pre-movement test?
The owner of the bull. It's a commercial arrangement. If the bull is on a premises requiring pre-movement testing, it will need to be tested before it can be moved.
With the herd owner being responsible for the pre-movement test costs. What would happen if the hire bull stays on the farm longer than 60 days? Before it can be moved else where it would need a test. Would the owner be expected to get his LVI to travel to the farm where the animal is currently? What if it's in another part of the country? Should the owner and person hiring sort out the logistics themselves?
If the bull needs to move out of the herd, (that is not exempt from pre-movement testing) and has not had a clear TB test in the 60 days, it will need to be tested. The arrangements should be agreed between the owner and person hiring.
Are Bull Hirers, Heifer Rearers & Dealers exempt from testing like Producer Retailers if they are in 3 or 4 yearly parishes and their herd-testing interval is annual?
Bull Hirers, Heifer Rearers and Dealers are not exempt from pre-movement testing as they are on a Herd Testing Interval of 12 months for increased animal health disease control reasons.
Producer Retailers are excluded from pre-movement testing as they are on annual testing for public health reasons.
What if I wanted to check test my bull, if clear move it to another farm, then move it on again still within 60 days of that initial test. Will this be possible if the bull is at the other farm for more than 30 days, but less than 60 from the test? Or will another test be necessary before the bull can move on again, even though it will be within 60 days of its last test?
No, another test will not be necessary. It is possible for the bull to be tested on his own holding and then move to another farm and then move again within the 60 days (as its not possible to re-test).
The bull can be moved as many times as the owner wishes within the 60 day period following a clear test subject to the 6 day standstill requirement being adhered to. If the bull moves again outside of the 60 days then another test would be required if it has been on the holding for more than 30 days.
Sole Occupancy Authorities (SOAs)
If I have a SOA, which includes holdings/grazing in different PTIs, i.e. some grazing may be in annual, some may be in 48 monthly etc. Does this exempt me from pre-movement testing all cattle kept on all SOA listed holdings when they are moved between these holdings only.
Movements between holdings listed on a SOA are exempt from pre-movement testing. However, any movements out of the SOA group would require pre-movement testing if the movement is out of a high-risk herd. The testing of ALL holdings in the SOA should default to that of the most high risk.
30 Day Exemption
The new Order exempts animals from pre-movement testing that have been on farm no more than 30 days. Should this exemption be applied once or can I move my cattle again under this exemption if they have been on the holding less than 30 days?
Cattle moving off a holding within 30 days of arrival do not require pre-movement testing.
A test would not be required on animals moving again less than 30 days after the original movement.
BCMS/CPH linked movements
Animals remaining under the same ownership but are moved on a tack basis for winter housing or summer grazing etc. Will they be required to be pre movement tested?
If the animals are moving out of the herd into another herd then they would need to be pre-movement tested
If a premise has a BCMS link, will cattle need to be tested while going between these two premises?
Yes they will need to be tested.
If a cow is moving between premises within the same parish and both are on annual or bi- annual testing, would it need to be tested?
Yes, that is correct.
If moving between premises with the same ownership but different holding numbers, wouldn't these also need a pre movement test?
Yes, that is correct, unless they are registered under a SOA. .
General
Can herd owners add animals to any TB test carried out?
Herd owners can request additional animals to be added to any routine TB test for the purpose of a pre-movement test and the cost will be met by Animal Health . The only exception is where the test is an Inconclusive Reactor (IR) retest or a Tracing test. Animals can be added for pre-movement testing but the cost will be met by the herd owner for these extra animals. If Animal Health carry out these IR and Tracing tests then additional animals cannot be added for the purposes of a pre-movement test.
If a farmer does not have an LVI practice and has all their testing done by Animal Health, should they require a pre-movement test would they be able to ask Animal Health to do it for them or must they source an LVI to do it on their behalf?
Even though the herd owner does not have an LVI, he must still have access to a vet to look after his cattle, for health issues. Therefore, it is still the herd owner's responsibility to employ a LVI Panel 1 (a) to carry out a pre-movement test, should he require one.
The Government covers the costs of the national routine testing and the tuberculin used during all TB tests and herd owners are expected to cover the costs of the LVIs time to carry out pre-movement tests.
The herd owner would be able to move his stock 60 days after a routine test was carried out, so this can count as a pre-movement test.
What if a herd owner is not happy with the cost of a pre-movement test?
This is a matter to be sorted out between the herd owner and LVI. Any LVI trained to carry out TB tests are able to complete pre-movement tests.
Further Information
All herd owners were sent a copy of the TB in Cattle - Reducing the Risk: Pre- and Post- Movement Testing in Great Britain booklet from December 2005 onwards.
For further information regarding pre- and post- movement testing in your country, please see the attached links to useful websites:-
Page last modified: 2 April 2007
Page published: 2 April 2007