Approximately 1,000 herds made use of the 28-day grace period to delay their TB tests.

Department of Agriculture figures show farmers made use of the flexibility between 23 March and 3 June. Farmers who had not completed a herd test after this period were restricted. Overall, the number of farmers who delayed testing was relatively small.

Flexibility was also granted in terms of testing young calves between 42 and 120 days old.

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The Department said: “An analysis of herds TB tested in May shows that 78% of herds with calves aged 42-120 days TB-tested all such calves, while 8% tested some but not all such calves, and 14% did not test any of their calves aged 42-120 days.”

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