Trucks taking live animals from affected farms must not go to unaffected farms.

Farms that are infected, or being tested, are under regulatory controls and they can't move animals off the property without a permit from MPI.

A truck carrying live animals (including bobby calves) from an infected farm:

• must go directly to the processing plant
• may, if permitted, pick up animals from other farms under controls, but not from unaffected farms
• must be thoroughly cleaned at the plant after unloading the animals
• can't visit other unaffected farms unless it has been cleaned.

Calves can contract the disease through direct contact with infected cattle, or by consuming milk from infected cows.

Sharing milk between farms and feeding it to calves is a high-risk activity. Avoid trading raw milk or colostrum if possible. Milk that has the lowest risk of containing M. bovis bacteria comes in 3 forms:

• calf milk replacer powder
• pasteurised milk,
• or acidified milk.

When feeding colostrum to new-born calves take extra care to ensure it is not infected with M. bovis.

Antibiotic dry cow treatment and internal teat sealants need to be administered properly, in a clean environment. Bacterial infection can cause severe mastitis and there’s a risk of M. bovis transmission between cows.

Vets and other contractors coming on to the farm at this time must follow good on-farm biosecurity practices. This includes a “clean on, clean off” policy for all equipment, boots and clothing.

Trucks taking live animals from affected farms must not go to unaffected farms.

Farms that are infected, or being tested, are under regulatory controls and they can't move animals off the property without a permit from MPI.

A truck carrying live animals (including bobby calves) from an infected farm:

• must go directly to the processing plant
• may, if permitted, pick up animals from other farms under controls, but not from unaffected farms
• must be thoroughly cleaned at the plant after unloading the animals
• can't visit other unaffected farms unless it has been cleaned.

Herd testing monitors milk quality and identifies which cows are performing. Ensure herd testers follow good biosecurity practice while on the farm, including a “clean on, clean off” policy.

When buying calves (or any cattle, including bulls) find out the health history of the herd. In particular ask about mastitis and lameness in cows and pneumonia and lameness in calves.

You should ask for assurances that the inside of the truck bringing them onto your farm is thoroughly cleaned before your cattle are loaded. Also require that they’re not mixed in with a split load of other animals destined for another farm.

• Stock can be under stress
• Mastitis (signs to look out for include swollen (multiple) quarters, but not painful or hot, and cow is non responsive to treatment. Contact your vet if you are concerned about unusual signs).
• Calves fed with infected milk
• Mingling and transporting of calves
• Risk of selling infected milk
• Transporting stock
• Stock movement

Antibiotic dry cow treatment and internal teat sealants need to be administered properly, in a clean environment. Bacterial infection can cause severe mastitis and there’s a risk of M. bovis transmission between cows.

Vets and other contractors coming on to the farm at this time must follow good on-farm biosecurity practices. This includes a “clean on, clean off” policy for all equipment, boots and clothing.

Trucks taking live animals from affected farms must not go to unaffected farms.

Farms that are infected, or being tested, are under regulatory controls and they can't move animals off the property without a permit from MPI.

A truck carrying live animals (including bobby calves) from an infected farm:

• must go directly to the processing plant
• may, if permitted, pick up animals from other farms under controls, but not from unaffected farms
• must be thoroughly cleaned at the plant after unloading the animals
• can't visit other unaffected farms unless it has been cleaned.

If you’re selling cattle be prepared to provide potential sellers with information about:

• any M. bovis test results for the farm
• whether the farm is subject to any M. bovis tracing by MPI
• the farm's stock trading practices
• the source of all milk fed to calves on the farm
• whether all stock movement records are up-to-date and recorded in NAIT
• about cow and calf health on the farm for the past 2 seasons.

It’s important to have good conversations with your grazier about how biosecurity is going to be managed while animals are off the main farm. Discuss how mobs will be kept separate.

Treat your own animals as new arrivals when they return home after grazing. They should be kept separate for 7 to 10 days. Monitor them for any signs of disease and talk to your vet if you’re concerned.

If the bulls are from a beef property, they are considered a low-risk stock class. If M. bovis test results are unavailable, then the best indicator of the level of risk from these bulls is the health status of the herd(s) they’ve have been running with. Check levels of pneumonia and lameness especially.

If test results show evidence of M. bovis infection, MPI will provide direction for the ongoing management or slaughter of any animals leaving the farm, including bulls. For all bulls, ask questions about the mixing and mingling trading practices on the farm of origin.

When buying calves (or any cattle, including bulls) find out the health history of the herd. In particular ask about mastitis and lameness in cows and pneumonia and lameness in calves.

You should ask for assurances that the inside of the truck bringing them onto your farm is thoroughly cleaned before your cattle are loaded. Also require that they’re not mixed in with a split load of other animals destined for another farm.

• Transporting stock
• Stock movement
• Leasing or purchasing bulls