Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
An Roinn Talmhaiochta, Bia agus Mara
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - CATTLE
Animal Health Status
T.B.
All animals must come from herds, which are Officially TB free (OTF) (i.e. not restricted), and the herd and relevant animals must have had a clear test within the previous twelve months. No pre-movement test is required for T.B. However, it is recommended by the Department that a 30-day pre-movement test for TB should apply to all Shows.
Brucellosis
All animals must come from herds which are Officially TB free (OTF) (i.e. not restricted).
Certain animals (i.e. females aged 18 months and over and bulls aged 24 months and over) must have passed a test for Brucellosis within the previous 60 days. However, these animals may move to any number of Shows within the validity period of the same 60-day pre-movement test.
Identification
All cattle must bear double plastic tags as issued under the Department's identification system. They must be accompanied by their passports.
Bulls for A.I. Stations
In addition to the T.B. and Brucellosis tests, bulls destined for A.I. stations must be
tested for I.B.R. (Infectious Bovine Rhynotracheitis), E.B.L. (Enzootic Bovine Leukosis), B.V.D. (Bovine Virus Diarrhoea) and Johnes Disease, within 30 days prior to movement into such stations.
AIM Notification
The movement of cattle to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM. Keepers who plan to move animals to a show must obtain a Certificate of Compliance prior to the Movement of animals. No destination should be nominated when the keeper is applying for a Certificate.
At the Show, the Movement Notification section of the Certificate should be completed by the keeper and the Show Secretary who should clearly indicate the Show Number on the form. Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary.
Completed forms should be sent to the District Veterinary Office in the county where the Show is being held within 7 days of movement.
Imports from Northern Ireland
It is very important that any proposal to import cattle to a show is made known to the
local District Veterinary Office well in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined below.
Premises
The Show premises at which the cattle will reside for the duration of their stay must either be an assembly centre approved for exports or of such a standard as being capable of being approved for such a purpose temporarily. A fundamental requirement for such premises is that they have surfaces that are capable of being cleaned and disinfected, and have adequate cleaning and disinfection facilities. Adequate segregation facilities may be required also (see under "Status of Animals" below).
Status of Animals
Cattle from Northern Ireland being moved to a show must be certified in accordance with the normal requirements for intra-community trade in breeding animals including having passed a TB test (export interpretation) during the 30 days prior to export and a brucellosis test in the case of eligible animals (females and entire males over 12 months) during the 30 days prior to leaving the herd of origin.
To comply with eligibility requirements for re-importation into Northern Ireland after the show, cattle must not mix with any cattle of a lesser health status whilst at the show. This can be achieved in one of two ways: (i) either the imported animals are kept segregated fully from other cattle at the show which have not been tested, or (ii) all cattle attending the show must have been TB (export interpretation) within 30 days and all cattle from Northern Ireland attending the show must have been brucellosis tested within 30 days as set out above.
Documentation
Cattle imported to a show from Northern Ireland must be accompanied by an original breeding animal intra-trade health certificate (known as a TRACES certificate) and a passport for each animal. A TRACES message, corresponding with the TRACES certificate, will be sent for each animal or consignment being dispatched to the show (this will be performed by officials in the dispatching country). For the return journey, this original certificate must be endorsed by the signature of the official veterinarian of the Department at the show, together with the official stamp of the competent authority and date of endorsement. A TRACES message will be sent for the return journey also (this will be performed by Department officials attending the show).
In addition, a non-comminglement certificate must be issued by the official veterinarian for the show at or before return, stating that the animal shows no clinical signs of disease and has not been in contact, during its stay at the show/event, with animals of a lesser health status. The passport must accompany the animal on the return journey also.
The Show Secretary should complete a CMMS 5 form in respect of animals imported to take part in the Show. The owner of the imported animal(s) is required to sign the form also when the animal arrives at the Show and provide his/her herd number. Following the Show, the official veterinarian should complete the bottom portion of the CMMS 5 form also confirming that he has stamped the official Health Certificate and that he has issued a Non-Comminglement Certificate.
The completed CMMS 5 form should then be forwarded to NBAS Division, Administration Building, Backweston Campus, Backweston, Celbridge, Co Kildare to enable recording of the movement. A carbon copy of the form will be provided for the Show Secretary, the official veterinarian and the herd keeper of the animal(s).
CMMS 5 forms are available from (local District Veterinary Offices (DVOs) or from the Cattle Movement Notification Agency, Clonakilty, Co Cork) should then be forwarded to AIM Division, Administration Building, Backweston Campus, Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare to enable recording of the movement. A carbon copy of the form will be provided for the Show Secretary, the official veterinarian and the herd keeper of the animal(s).
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - SHEEP
Animal Health Status
Identification
All sheep must be identified individually with appropriate ear tags issued in accor¬dance with the requirements of the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS).
Movement Documentation
All consignments of sheep being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document. Individual details of each sheep in the consignment must be recorded on the document. Sheep from non-restricted flocks only can be moved to shows. In the case of flocks restricted following diagnosis of scrapie, sheep possessing the ARR/ARR genotype only may be exhibited. The movement of these ARR/ARR genotype sheep must be accompanied by the relevant movement permit (SCR/10), which can be obtained from the local District Veterinary Office in the county where the flock is located.
AIM Notification
The movement of sheep to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM. This is done using a copy of the owners sheep dispatch document as follows:
- The owner/keeper presents the signed and completed dispatch document with to the show secretary who checks it to ensure that it is completed in full.
- The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with (i) the show number, (ii) the date of the move back to the source holding (iii) stamps it with the show stamp and (iv) signs the dispatch document.
- The show secretary then forwards the completed pink section of the dispatch document to the local DVO within 7 days of the show movement.
- The show secretary keeps white copy for his/her records.
- The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom yellow copy to enter it into their flock register.
Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary.
Flock Register
All movements of sheep to and from shows must be recorded in the keeper's flock register.
Exports to Northern Ireland
All sheep must be accompanied by a TRACES infra trade certificate for ovine ani¬mals. A TRACES message, corresponding with the TRACES certificate, will be sent for each animal or consignment being dispatched to the show (this will be performed by Department officials of the DVO). Exhibitors are advised to contact the show society in Northern Ireland well in advance of any show to determine the suitability of the show for return of animals (e.g. premises and sheep status), and whether the authorities will have officials and veterinary staff present to supervise and process documentation for animals returning to origin.
Agreement for the movement and immediate return of sheep to a Show in another country or vice versa currently applies for movements between Ireland and Northern Ireland only – it does not apply for movements to Great Britain or further afield. Movements to shows other than Northern Ireland, will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and you should contact your local District Veterinary Office at least one month prior to the Show.
Attendance of sheep from scrapie monitored flocks at shows in 2013
Shows between 1st May and 31st October
Sheep from Scrapie Monitored Flocks will be permitted to attend Agricultural Shows taking place between 1st May and 31st October, without restrictions or separation from other categories of sheep.
Shows outside of the 1st May and 31st October Period
For shows taking place before 1st May or after 31st October, sheep from Scrapie Monitored or Probationary flock must be separated from other sheep as set down below.
- There must be complete separation of Monitored/Probationary sheep from other categories of sheep at the show. Ideally, this would mean a separate entrance and exit for each group, separate loading and unloading areas, separate penning areas for each of the two groups and separate sale rings for each of the two groups.
- In locations where all of the above may not be possible, the minimum requirement would be for separation of loading and unloading areas and also of penning areas. The two penning areas should be separated by a sheep-free alleyway at least twelve feet wide. If only one show ring is available, the sheep from the scrapie-monitored flocks must be shown first.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - GOATS
Animal Health Status
Identification
All sheep must be identified individually with appropriate ear tags issued in accor¬dance with the requirements of the National Goat Identification System (NGIS).
Movement Documentation
All consignments of goats being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document. Individual details of each sheep in the consignment must be recorded on the document. Only goats from herds/holdings that are not under restriction can be moved to shows.
AIM Notification
The movement of goats to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM. This is done using a copy of the owners sheep dispatch document as follows:
- The owner/keeper presents the signed and completed dispatch document with to the show secretary who checks it to ensure that it is completed in full.
- The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with (i) the show number, (ii) the date of the move back to the source holding (iii) stamps it with the show stamp and (iv) signs the dispatch document.
- The show secretary then forwards the completed pink section of the dispatch document to the local DVO within 7 days of the show movement.
- The show secretary keeps white copy for his/her records.
- The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom yellow copy to enter it into their herd register.
Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary.
Herd Register
All movements of goats to and from shows must be recorded in the keeper's goat herd register.
Attendance of goats from monitored flocks at shows in 2013
Shows between 1st May and 31st October
Goats from Scrapie Monitored Herds will be permitted to attend Agricultural Shows taking place between 1st May and 31st October, without restrictions or separation from other categories of goats.
Shows outside of the 1st May and 31st October Period
For shows taking place before 1st May or after 31st October, goats from Scrapie Monitored or Probationary herds must be separated from other goats as set down below.
- There must be complete separation of Monitored/Probationary goats from other categories of goats at the show. Ideally, this would mean a separate entrance and exit for each group, separate loading and unloading areas, separate penning areas for each of the two groups and separate sale rings for each of the two groups.
- In locations where all of the above may not be possible, the minimum requirement would be for separation of loading and unloading areas and also of penning areas. The two penning areas should be separated by a goat-free alleyway at least twelve feet wide. If only one show ring is available, the goats from the scrapie-monitored herds must be shown first.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS – HORSES AND OTHER EQUINES
Premises Registration
As from 1st May 2012, any premises (which includes shows, fairs and markets) where horses or other equines are gathered must be registered with the Department. Owners/persons in charge of such gatherings are required to submit a completed application form for registration and to keep records of movements on/off their premises.
Records must be retained for at least 3 years as they may be required by the Department for the purposes of tracing disease. Records required are
- The name and address of the owner/person in charge of the premises from which the equine came;
- The premises registration number from which the equine came and
- Passport number/UEL number of the animal
It is important therefore that Show organisers should contact their local District Veterinary Office in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined above.
Equine Identification
All Equines (which include horses, ponies and donkeys) must be identified in accordance with EU and national legislation.
- Possession of an unidentified equine is an offence under the legislation.
- Passport must be issued by approved Passport Issuing Organisations [PIOs] within the calendar year of birth [by 31 December in the year of birth] or within six months of birth [whichever is later] and is valid for the lifetime of the animal. A list of the PIOs is set out in Appendix 1.
- Microchip – all equines issued with a passport after 1st July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian which is recorded in the passport and creates a link between the passport and the animal.
A keeper must
- Have an equine registered with a PIO.
- Have a passport issued in accordance with EU and national legislation.
- Comply with the provisions of the legislation whereby a passport must be accompany the equine whenever it is moved to events such as shows, sales and to slaughter plants, etc.
Posters and leaflets can be supplied and further information on stud book equines is available by contacting Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division, Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Farnham St, Cavan (Phone +353 49 4368200) or in relation to non-registered equines further information is available from Animal Identification and Movement Division, Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 2nd Floor, Administration Building, Backweston Complex, Celbridge, Co. Kildare (Phone +353 1 5058881)