Without the help of the people who have unfortunately contracted Tb in their herds and that are in the TB Support Group and have given their valuable data we would not be in the position of being able to help protect our own herds and stop this disease from spreading, so the first thing that we need to do is send The TB Support Group and all its members our thanks. We are so grateful. It is only through their experiences, help and advice that we can help protect the health of our animals and the future of the alpaca industry.
TB - An Open Debate
Action Now = A Future For The Industry
Or
Nothing to worry about
We want you to let us know how the recent rapid increase in TB in alpacas breakdowns has affected the way you manage your herd.
Let us know your thoughts, the measures you are taking regards the TB situation here in the U.K.
Maybe you have changed nothing and don't see it as a problem.
Have you stopped showing or sending away females for mating - have you become a closed herd or are you carrying on as if nothing has happened?
Did you attend the recent BAS TB Awareness Meetings – if so has this influenced changes you have made.
Let us know by clicking on comments and telling us your views.
You can remain anonymous if you wish.
Posts
We take the issue of Tb very seriously and have made several adaptions to our herd management. We have split our animals into several separate groups and keep each group well apart, we pick up drinkers at night, keep all feedstuffs locked away and do our best to keep out wildlife. We have double fenced our boundary to prevent any contact with neighboring livestock and are currently trying to get our 'Disinfectant Regime' sorted. We are not showing this year and have changed our mating plans. We attended the Roadshow and found it very good. We had a cria die this year and had him post mortemed, using the BAS herd book to record his death. We will still be purchasing animals later in the year but only from herds who take this issue seriously. We have still further measures we need to take but are doing our best!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you all, for taking this issue seriously. Which is more than Defra have been doing.
ReplyDeleteThe postmortem picture of the infected trachea in a volunteered companion animal, is horrific. And unlike cattle, I understand that open TB lesions in alpacas have a huge amount of tuberculosis bacteria available for onward spread.
We will do a link to the TB blog for you.
Matt @ www.bovinetb.blogspot.com
We've always had PM's done. You always need to know the cause of death. We did consider showing this year in view of the TB Roadshows but after visiting the SWAG show with no animals to check out the situation there is no possibility of us risking any of our animals. It was a complete and utter farce in view of the Guidelines sent out by the BAS. I care about my animals more than a piece of ribbon.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me more about the SWAG show and the BAS Guidelines. I am new to alpacas and want to buy but not sure how I go about it.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened at the SWAG show and what are the BAS guidleines.
thanks for your help
If you click on the link at the side Bovine Tb blog you will see many posts there regarding this show. The show guidelines are on the BAS website. Apparently nearly all of these were ignored. http://www.bas-uk.com/files/pdf/Biosecurity_guidelines_2010.pdf
ReplyDeleteYou can go to www.bovinetb.blogspot.com and read the post bio security camelids April 19th. just scroll down the main page until you come to the feature - then read the comments.
ReplyDeletehope that helps. Can the bovine blog and this new blog connect articles - I have always followed the bovine blog to get the latest on Tb in alpacas and I am also in dianes Tb Update group. Well done to this new blog - it is needed
You can contact Dianne Summers to get advice on purchasing alpacas safely
ReplyDeleteI have tried to find the comments regarding the swag show with out success. We were showing at this show and abided by all the recommendations. We found it to be well run and bio security was taken seriously. In the end it was up to each individual exhibitor to make sure their animals did not come in contact with any others, pens were well spaced and when animals were moved from indoor pens to out doors spacing was still in place.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see the comments about the show to see what the concerns were.
Our show animals are kept completely separate from the rest of the herd actually on a different holding so they do not get any contact. We have taken all the practical measures we can on our farm and take the TB issue very seriously coming from a farming background we have lived with bTb for many years.
Anon @ 00.11
ReplyDeleteThe comments regarding the SWAG show can be found at http://bovinetb.blogspot.com/2010/04/biosecurity-camelids.html
and the BAS guidelines are at
http://www.bas-uk.com/files/pdf/Biosecurity_guidelines_2010.pdf
Sorry, you will need to copy and paste these addresses into the address bar on your web browser.
ReplyDeleteto make it easier for you go to www.bovinetb.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteScroll down to the article Bio Security Camelids on the home page.
Read the entire article then at the very bottom
click on comments just above the post Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Hope that helps
I have a complete herd health plan which is updated regularly with my vet, a biosecurity risk assessment in place and a herd which has been closed for 21 months so far. We are an island as far as other stock go and we regularly check for signs of wildlife. I have completed the accreditation questionnaire and will wait for a test before doing any on farm movements. If anyone can think of anything else ?
ReplyDeleteI suggest that you keep an eye out for empty Maize Cobs (bit late now though) on your pastures and remove them immediately if not sooner!
ReplyDeleteWhy - Farmers raise pheasants for shoots, they keep back a bit of standing maize for shelter and food after the main crop has gone for silage usually in October. Badgers love maize, crows are also partial to flying off with half eaten cobs to drop and peck at on your patch. Need I say more.