In Wales, we test Officially Tuberculosis Free (OTF) cattle herds at least once a year. We use the Single Intradermal Comparative Cervical Test (SICCT or “skin test”). This is a key part of our TB surveillance. It is designed to provide confidence that herds are genuinely free of TB and able to trade cattle. 

The OTF status of a herd is lost, when movement restrictions are placed on the herd. This could be due to any of the following circumstances: 

• when an animal is identified as a reactor, or an inconclusive reactor (IR) to the skin test when an animal is suspected of having TB, either: 
  • as a clinical case on farm, or
  • at routine meat inspection in an abattoir when tuberculosis like lesions are identified at post mortem 
• an overdue skin test

When movement restrictions have been served on the herd: 

• no movement is allowed into or out of the herd unless licensed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
• cattle can move under licence from the herd:
  • directly to slaughter
  • to an Approved Slaughter Gathering
  • to an Approved Finishing Unit (AFU)
  • to an AFUE in England
  • to a TB Dedicated Sale (“Orange Market”)
  • to a TB Isolation Unit, or to another TB restricted holding

Licences to allow these moves are only approved following a favourable risk assessment. 

• no restocking is allowed until the cattle remaining have completed an additional whole herd skin test. In certain circumstances e.g. in slaughterhouse cases: 
• an immediate whole herd Check Test (CT) may be required and a further whole herd skin test
• APHA will serve a notice requiring isolation of animals that are: 
  • clinical suspects
  • reactors or IRs to the skin test
  • gamma and/or IDEXX* test positive, or 
  • identified as Direct Contacts (higher risk animals) for removal

*The Interferon-gamma (the “gamma test”) and the IDEXX test are blood tests used to supplement the skin test. They can identify additional TB infected animals missed by the skin test.

Movement restrictions reduce the risk of TB spreading within and between cattle herds. When a herd has been placed under movement restrictions more testing takes place until: 

• the required testing regime has been completed, and
• the results are negative, or clear

In the case of an overdue test, a test of all eligible animals is required, before movement restrictions are removed. 

Cattle herds in Wales can have a TB status of: 

• Officially TB Free (OTF) 
• Officially TB Free Suspended (OTFS) 
• Officially TB Free Withdrawn (OTFW) 

Officially TB Free 

Herds with a clear test history are described as OTF. These herds have satisfied the testing requirements needed to allow them to trade cattle on the open market. 

Officially TB Free Suspended (OTFS) 

New TB breakdowns across Waleswill be classified as Officially TB Free Status Withdrawn (OTFW). There are two exceptions to this, which will continue to be classified as OTFS: 

• OTF herds where one or more suspect slaughterhouse case(s) have been disclosed and culture results are still pending. A whole herd skin Check Test may be required. Providing this test is clear and a culture, or PCR result is negative, movement restrictions are removed (see OTFW below)
• herds where movement restrictions are applied as a result of an overdue skin test are also considered as OTFS, until the required testing has been satisfactorily completed 

Officially TB Free Withdrawn

All new TB breakdowns across Wales, initiated by a skin test reactor, or two x IR will be classified as Officially TB Free Status Withdrawn (OTFW).

Those breakdowns still being classified as OTFS (as outlined above) will become OTFW if: 

• one or more skin test reactors (or two-times standard IRs) are disclosed in any subsequent skin test 
• a slaughterhouse case is culture positive 
• a Veterinary Lead Wales has discretion to classify an OTFS herd as OTFW, in exceptional circumstances

 Additional actions are taken in an OTFW breakdown to ensure all risks of spread of disease from infected animals have been minimised: 

• animals moved from the breakdown herd are traced and tested if appropriate 
• neighbouring herds are investigated and tested if appropriate 
• additional animals which are at risk of infection may be considered for slaughter as Direct Contacts (DCs) 
• slaughter of the remaining animals in the group or herd may be considered if infection is severe and extensive

When a herd is classified as OTFW, follow up testing takes place until we are satisfied that the disease is no longer present. Herds with an OTFW status require two clear consecutive TB tests to regain OTF status. They must be at a minimum interval of 60 days, with at least the first test being at severe interpretation. Once the herd regains OTF status, movement restrictions can be lifted. 

Information on what happens if TB is identified in your herd (Wales) is available on gov.uk.