what do i test new stock for

dar31

what tests should be done when purchasing new stock
we would usually buy 2 - 4 stock bulls every year from the same herd as we have done for the past 20 + years.
the usual tb and bru are done. they are bought as calves 3 - 4 months old and quarintined for a month before going into daily life. these are the only stock bought.
ive no concernes that there is a problem with supplier, yet i want to be as sure as possible that nothing is brought into the herd.
bvd johnes are these tests effective

greysides

BVD tests are reliable- just make sure they are interpreted correctly. Worth going if you value your herds health.

Johne's Disease blood tests are unreliable unless backed up by the presence of clinical signs. Isolation from faecal culture would be accurate enough.

Salmonella, IBR and lepto tests will show whether exposure has occurred or not but not indicate whether animals are carriers or not. Antibiotic treatment to lepto positives could be considered to try to eliminate any carriers. IBR positives are best considered as carriers- they are so considered for vaccination purposes.

If you look too hard you'd never buy anything. Buying young, as you do, is your best policy.

whelan1

pg where doing tests on milk for bvd , johnes etc and when the results came back every one was alarmed turns out that they only really show that an animal has met the infections but doesnt mean they have it iykwim

dar31

cheers
going to test for bvd, johnes, ibr, and e-coli as they will mix with young calves after quarantine.
not doing lepto and salmonella as we vaccinate for these already.

have talked to people over the last good while, and some of them didn't vaccinate for lepto. very daft imo, surely they value their own health

greysides

How are you testing for E.coli ?