Elderberry Herd Health

Herd Health

Summary

Members of SAC Premium Cattle Health Scheme

17 years of health testing
Herd accredited free of BVD since 2008 (last test 2024)
Herd accredited free of IBR since 2013 (last test 2024)
Herd Lepto monitored free since 2013 (last test 2024)
Herd Johnes Risk Level 1 (accredited) since 2013 (last test 2024)
4 yearly TB testing (last test Feb 2024)
Monitoring for Neospora
Stringent biosecurity and isolation.

We think herd health is extremely important and a lot of effort and expense has gone into establishing our health status.

We believe we must be one of the largest beef herds in the country to hold this health status.

In depth

We are in a 4-yearly testing area for TB with the last test being Feb 2024 and was all clear. The Elderberry Herd has never had a TB reactor.

IBR and Lepto.

Initially our 2005 crop of heifers were tested clear of IBR and Lepto. We have tested eveery year since annually.

Following whole herd testing the herd is ACCREDITED for IBR and Lepto (last test 2024)

BVD.

Initial tests for BVD in 2007 and again 2008 all proved negative and accreditation status was granted to the herd in December 2008. A vaccination program to safeguard our stock is in place, with further annual testing of pre-vaccinated youngstock conducted to maintain accreditation status. Last routine youngstock test was December 2020.

Neospora.

Selective testing in our best breeding lines for Neospora was carried out in November 2008 with all negative results. Further testing has been carried out including practically the whole herd (depending on pregnancy status) which were tested in summer 2014 with all negative results. Last Neospora testing done Dec 2020.

This is something we will continue to monitor and we look to test all imported females for Neospora before entering the farm/herd.

Johne’s.

The herd has been tested for Johnes since May 2007. We routinely PCR tested and isolated outfits after all calvings for many years. These only left isolation after negative results are returned, usually at around one month after calving. We buy new bloodlines in France and all females are imported from herds with a long history of clear Johnes testing and from large herds. We are proud to say that we achieved Risk Level 1 status in 2013 and have retained this status since with all clear herd tests. We understand the nature of the disease and therefore have continued to PCR targetted cows post calving as well as the annual blood testing.

We take herd health very seriously at Elderberry and are very proud of our health status, which is the result of a lot of hard work and diligence.

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