The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Roxy on June 03, 2015, 01:01:58 pm

Title: Brucellosis testing
Post by: Roxy on June 03, 2015, 01:01:58 pm
Had a letter to say my goats and sheep have been selected to be tested for Brucellosis. Has anyone else had theirs tested?
Title: Re: Brucellosis testing
Post by: cans on June 03, 2015, 01:31:40 pm
Our got pick for this a few years ago.  Official vet came, took blood, did the paper work and left.   We had a foot bath (basin with proper disinfectant in it) for her to dip her wellies in.  She had a new boiler suit and clean wellies with her, but she still washed the wellies.


She got in touch a few weeks later to say all was ok then the official letter arrived.

Nothing to worry about.  They pick herds/flocks at random
Title: Re: Brucellosis testing
Post by: Roxy on June 03, 2015, 01:39:55 pm
Thanks, Cans.  I suppose they have to be careful, in case they find a herd has it - and they would not want to be responsible for carrying it to another farm, would they!!

How many did they test - it says a maximum of 20.   I imagine it would take some time if they did all my goats and sheep.
Title: Re: Brucellosis testing
Post by: cans on June 03, 2015, 01:51:03 pm
We only had three - retired ladies    So it didn't take long!!!    The vet that came to us knew what she was doing, which made things easier even for three.  The hardest part was catching one of them as she was/ still is a beggar to catch if she got away from you first time.

Title: Re: Brucellosis testing
Post by: Roxy on June 03, 2015, 02:08:39 pm
Yes, I have some of the younger ones, who are a bit skittish, and a couple with big horns, who are not adverse to using them if someone jabbed them with a needle......and if they want to test the soay sheep, then they are welcome to try and catch them.
Title: Re: Brucellosis testing
Post by: Melmarsh on June 03, 2015, 08:50:38 pm
Hi Roxy, my two took part last year, no worries had a letter two days ago to say that all the goats and sheep that they tested were negative.  :wave: