[dixie]

Had a call from animal health today advising me I have been randomly selected to have my sheep tested for bruscellosis, yippee!!
Anyone else had this that can advise what's involved and why? He said although bruscellosis is not here in our country they test to make sure we don't export to others! Needless to say I am a bit miffed as I don't want some stranger upsetting my little flock!

[Haylo-peapod]

I believe Bramblecot was having her flock tested yesterday.
 
Have a look at another thread 'Brucellosis?' (sorry, don't know how to attach a link)
 
 

[Sbom]

We had ours done last year, they just need to take a blood sample from a percentage of the flock. Complete waste of time and resources as we don't have it in this country! Apparently the folks abroad say you can't know you haven't got it unless you test for it so they have to test. Think if I remember correctly we didn't get the results til the following Jan? The vet said don't worry as they will be negative and they were. Was a quick job so am sure the sheep won't mind, definitely less disruption than shearing anyway.

[SallyintNorth]

We had ours tested yesterday.  They wanted 19 ewes and 1 tup.  The chap was 30 minutes early but luckily we'd got them all in ready by then.

They take a blood sample from the neck, take the ear tag number for each and that's your lot. 

He said we'd get the results December-time.

"EU regs," is pretty much all we got as to the why of it.

[Rosemary]

We had ours done a few years ago - same as everyone else here. The vets were really nice - did all 5 of mine and headed off.

[Bramblecot]

The animal health officer - not a vet - came yesterday.  One simple form listing the eartags to match with blood sample.  She was very quick , great with the sheep, and explained everthing  .  It is to keep  Britain's status as 'disease-free'.  She needed 20 samples, preferably from breeding ewes.

Whilst they were penned in, we did our Heptavac jabs, and Crovected them all, so I worried for nothing - unless of course we are the first in  the country to contract the disease 

[dixie]

Thanks everyone, mine aren't individually tagged so that should be interesting!   I feel it's inconvenient and a waste of time to ensure we don't export a disease we do not have, from a small flock that go 5 miles to the abattoir then back to my freezer! The naughty bitch inside me says " there's the field, there's the sheep help yourself"  ,   But I suppose I'll be nice and have them penned ready!

[Crofterloon]

I had mine tested about 3 years ago, I penned them up and the Guy sampled a percentage as others have said. He was very plesant and took blood samples and was away quite quickly.
But I took the chance to ask questions about several different subjects of interest which he seemed happy to answer.

[dixie]

Thanks guys, so nothing to worry about then, let's hope they behave, I have one or two who like to do a dying swan act when jabbed with a needle!

[Bramblecot]

Hi dixie , The technique our tester used was great.  All sheep in a pen, fairly tight together (so no chasing around).  Handler backed one into a corner and held around neck with the head held in a natural, relaxed position.  Needle in jugular, sample in a shot.  3rd person (does not have to be anyone used to sheep)kept the records.  Easy peasy, done in no time  .  She did not want them in a race or turnover crate.

[Hazelwood Flock]

I knew they would behave! what good sheep 

[Bramblecot]

They came from an excellent source