How much do you value the Health status of incoming cattle?  Anybody out there had a lucky escape by isolating and testing new stock?

I think the lack of response speaks volumes. Although we can all see it's a good policy to isolate and test incoming stock, hardly any of us actually do it. I'd have to hold my hands up and say that I don't anyway. Very sorry.

 We run a closed herd for health reasons.  However due to TB we had to buy some replacements a couple of years ago, we bought only young calves as they had less chance of picking something up (especially Digital Dermatitis), had them all blood tested for BVD, and kept the bunch isolated together for 10 weeks.  Thankfully, the only thing any of them picked up was a spot of pneumonia, probably from spending 7 hours on a lorry in the snow.

Stock bull will be isolated for 3 months when purchased - last bought one 3 years ago, and he has a bit more life left in him yet.

The replacements all came from a single dispersal sale, vets references checked beforehand.

Thanks for replying.  WnW  I think you're right about the silence.  Farmer Dan I salute you!

I have a small herd of sucklers with a gold badge from the vet.

We have to get in a hire bull each year but chose very carefully, isolate, blood test and massage antibiotic into his sheath each time, so far it has worked touch wood.

I know keeping your own bull can be expensive and troublesome, what with keeping him away from heifers and neighbours cattle etc etc but I feel that hiring in bulls is a recipe for disaster. I admire you concreter for going to such lengths to ensure the bulls health status, but it still seems very risky to me.

we don't although the majority of our stock comes in from one farm. most replacements are bred on farm and the rest are picked up here and there at farm sales, dont buy much through market.

i agree hiring a bull can be risky n as for other bought in stock how selective are peopleabout where they buy from?

i gess it depends on the health statous of your own stock already

Do you feel safer because you don't buy much through the market?

in a word, yes.

I would love a closed herd, but as it stands replacements need to come from somewhere, and i would much rather buy from somewhere i can see them in their own home so to speak as opposed to through market where there are hundreds of animals from all over the place, and without a fair bit of investigation, you have no idea where they come from.

like a concert, ballet or other aesthetic event after which the performers throw their clothes down and leave them in the wardrobes. Seminars used to be held during the day, but now most of the events, specifically corporate ones and other crowd pulling parties start at night and continue till early morning. People can choose any of these look accessories to elevate their looks. I don't distinguish with respect to you, but with a view me, being a clone of harry is not a satisfactory way to be primordia

 

We also run a closed dairy herd but had to buy in a batch of heifers a few years ago, we bought in-calf heifers from Holland. We consulted our vet and asked them to be tested for IBR, BVD, Johnes (although little likelihood of picking up at that age, we are free of all these diseases) and neospora.We were immediately warned that they were likely to get some positives for neospora and that we would therefore have to pay for testing say 20 animals to get 15 clean. This turned out to be the case as 3 tested were positive. Needless to say we did not buy those ones. Obviously we did isolate stock on arrival but nothing untoward but we are very glad we paid for the tests that we did.

 

 

After someone selling me a pedigree heifer that was a PI for bvd I dont care how many questions I ask before buying stock in and if they avoid answering yes or no I walk away BVD has taken some getting rid of we ran a closed herd free from any thing.just the same i dont mind anyone buying from me asking about the health status if in doubt I test.with costs today you have to be very careful.some bugs just hind then come back to bite.

 

I started this post because I sometimes have doubts that spending time and money keeping our health status high is worth it.  But having sold two bulls to buyers who specifically wanted BVD and Lepto free status animals last month and Bessie's post I feel a bit better. 

Browncow, keep it up. When we buy a stock bull we always want BVD free although we vaccinate for lepto as we have sheep, unfenced river grazing so think it unlikely that we can keep it out. We currently use Angus but quite likely to change to Herefords. One reason we went to Holland for our heifers was so many breeders we contacted (via BACA) with stock in this country went quiet when we asked about disease status (and admittedly TB prevention a major consideration - no TB in Holland!)

 Browncow, it is worthwhile keeping up the high health status, more and more farmers, us included, are wanting high health animals, particularly in closed herds where the stock bull may be the only purchase.  We use a Hereford bull, and will bear you in mind when Charlie is due to be replaced, transport is easily sorted, diseases are not.  Keep up the good work.

Well now I feel a whole lot better!   If you feel like taking a look .....  www.gomerherefords.com 

Excellent website, Browncow. We bought a bull from Dendor in July but I'll certainly bear you in mind when we need a replacement.

It would be good to meet the faces behind the avatars!  Come and say hello if you see us at the shows.