BSE testing - fallen cattle
(for England and Wales)
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Livestock keepers should note the sampling requirements for the purposes of monitoring BSE in cattle. Since 1 January 2009, all cattle that die or are slaughtered on farm or in transit (other than for human consumption), and are over 48 months old at the time of death, are required to be tested for BSE. Farmers are required to contact an approved collector within 24 hours of death to arrange delivery of the carcase to an approved sampling site within a further 48 hours. These cattle deaths must be recorded in the movement register within seven days and the cattle passports completed with the animals’ death details and sent to BCMS also within seven days.
Cattle born before August 1996 are not permitted to be slaughtered for human consumption in an abattoir and to send them to an abattoir is an offence.
