How can I minimise infection from cattle manure?
M bovis can survive in slurry for up to 6 months, for at least 2 months in faeces on grazing ground during warmer weather, and for up to 6 months in faeces on grazing ground in the winter. It may also survive in stacked manure, depending on the conditions. As a result:
- The length of time slurry is stored should be maximised before spreading, e.g. or at least 6 months.
- Solid manure should be composted for at least one month before spreading.
- Cattle should not be grazed on fields where slurry or manure has been spread for at least 2 months.
- Where possible, the use of shared equipment should be minimised, and efforts made to ensure that borrowed or contractors’ equipment is as clean as is reasonably possible.
- Try to minimise the creation of aerosols during spreading. The use of low emission spreading equipment is helpful in reducing aerosolisation and limiting herbage contamination.
The actual level of bTB organism is slurry is likely, in most cases, to be low given the limited shedding of the bacteria by most infected cattle in NI (due to early detection) and the dilution effect in slurry tanks. Therefore overall the risk from slurry is probably lower compared to other infection risks such as infected cattle and badgers. However careful storage, handling and application of slurry is important for many other infectious agents, such as Johne’s Disease. The measures listed above are likely to assist with the control or a range of other infectious agents.
To limit the risk of infection from infectious cattle it is important that:
- Any cattle testing positive for bTB are isolated from the rest of the herd immediately and, as far as practicable, other cattle are not exposed to their dung.
- Any cattle testing positive to bTB are slaughtered out of the herd as soon as possible.
- Isolation areas are cleaned thoroughly and disinfected after removal of the positive cattle.
- Any vehicles, equipment or facilities (eg trailers, collecting yards, crushes) that you share with other farmers are thoroughly cleaned after use and before you use them for your farm or livestock.
What are the risks?
Some herds will be at a known higher risk than others, for example:
- herds with a bTB breakdown history
- herds in areas of high risk where there have been and are current breakdowns
- herds that purchase regularly and from multiple sources.
In all cases the severity of the breakdown may vary.