Significant changes to the animal movement regime under new TB control measures will come into effect from Monday (April 13).

Under the new TB Action Plan, farmers will see changes to how cattle move through livestock marts.

Ahead of the changes, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has outlined how those animals will move.

For farmers who are selling cattle, your animal will be assigned to one of three groups so that it can be presented for sale. The Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system will notify your mart of your animal grouping.

For farmers buying cattle, your herd will also be assigned to a group. Your group will determine what animals you are eligible to buy.

Selling cattle

When your cattle are presented for sale, they will be grouped by AIM based on the destination they can be moved to as set out in the list below.

You will be able to see your animal’s grouping on the animal details screen available on AIM through the myAgfood portal from Monday.

The animal groups and their definitions are as follows:

Group 1 (Open) - Anyone can buy

Young stock (heifers/non-cow females or males under 36 months) that are 'in-test' (animal tested in last 12 months);
Cows or males over 36 months if they have a 30-day premovement test;
Beef breed cows or males over 36 months on an animal health lab test (animal and the herd the animal is in were tested in the last 6 months).

Group 2 (Dry) - Can only be bought by non-milk-supplying and non-breeding herd, and controlled finishing units (CFUs)

Dairy breed cows with an animal health lab test (animal and the herd the animal is in were tested in the last 6 months).

Group 3 (CFU) - Only department-approved CFUs can buy

Cows that were part of an exposed cohort in herds greater than 80 cows that were GIF (gamma interferon) tested;
Any in-test animal, including in-test dairy breed cows, not included in groups 1 and 2.

Buying cattle

Livestock marts will now be required to check with AIM that your herd is an eligible destination for animals you buy at the mart.

If AIM notifies the mart that your herd is not an eligible destination the animals in question, you will not be allowed to purchase those animals.

You will be able to see your herd group on AIM via myAgfood from Monday.

The herd groups and their definitions are as follows:

Group 1 (Open)

Herds in this group can only buy in animals in animal group 1. This group of herds includes breeding herds and herds with a milk supply contract in place.

Group 2 (Dry)

Herds in this group can buy in animals in both animal groups 1 and 2. They are non-milk-supplying, non-breeding herds. If you purchase cattle from animal group 2, these can only be subsequently moved directly to slaughter.

Group 3 (CFU)

Department-approved CFUs can buy in any animal from animal groups 1, 2 or 3. Animals can only move from CFUs directly to slaughter.

The department said that, for farm-to-farm movements, AIM will automatically conduct these checks when a farm-to-farm movement certificate has been applied for.