DNA Calf Identification
On 6 April 2007 changes were introduced to the rules on cattle identification and tracing in England, Wales and Scotland - although the basic rules on tagging, passports, record-keeping and notifications to the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) will remain unchanged, one important change will be that keepers refused a cattle passport due to a late application can choose to have their calf and its dam DNA tested to prove it is the offspring of the dam stated on the application form.
DNA Testing of Calves for Passports
BCMS refuse to issue passports of some animals, usually because the applications arrived later than 27 days after the declared birth of the calf.
From April 2007 farmers will be able to apply to have a DNA test carried out to establish the parentage of the calf and if successful BCMS will then issue a passport for the animal. This will apply to those animals already without passports and any new ones.
For the application to be successful samples will have to be collected from both the dam and the calf by a veterinary surgeon who will have to sign to say the identification of both matches that on the form supplied by BCMS.
The samples either blood or hair have to be sent to a registered laboratory.
All expenses of testing and sample collecting by the vet is to be paid for by the owner.
From April 2007 farmers will be able to apply to have a DNA test carried out to establish the parentage of the calf and if successful BCMS will then issue a passport for the animal. This will apply to those animals already without passports and any new ones.
For the application to be successful samples will have to be collected from both the dam and the calf by a veterinary surgeon who will have to sign to say the identification of both matches that on the form supplied by BCMS.
The samples either blood or hair have to be sent to a registered laboratory.
All expenses of testing and sample collecting by the vet is to be paid for by the owner.
Problems
The dam still has to be alive. They will not accept historic DNA results which may be held by breed societies etc.
Hair samples tend to be cheaper to process than blood but need to ensure you have the root of the hair in the follicle.
Laboratory costs can vary depending on how long you are prepared to wait for the result usually test times are 3-4 weeks faster times can be expensive.
A negative result can have serious implications for the farmer. He will be submitted to an inspection to determine how accurate the rest of his passports are. Obviously if he has one cow and calf that does not match up there must be at least one other pair on the farm the same. Major faults are looked on seriously including herd slaughter. Failure of the farmer to return the paper work issued by BCMS will also lead to an investigation.
Hair samples tend to be cheaper to process than blood but need to ensure you have the root of the hair in the follicle.
Laboratory costs can vary depending on how long you are prepared to wait for the result usually test times are 3-4 weeks faster times can be expensive.
A negative result can have serious implications for the farmer. He will be submitted to an inspection to determine how accurate the rest of his passports are. Obviously if he has one cow and calf that does not match up there must be at least one other pair on the farm the same. Major faults are looked on seriously including herd slaughter. Failure of the farmer to return the paper work issued by BCMS will also lead to an investigation.
Approved DNA Test Laboratories
Reading Scientific Services Limited, The Lord Zuckerman Research Centre, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, RG6 6LA
Tel: 0118 986 8541, Fax: 0118 986 8932, Website: http://www.rssl.com/, E-mail: enquiries@rssl.com
Tel: 0118 986 8541, Fax: 0118 986 8932, Website: http://www.rssl.com/, E-mail: enquiries@rssl.com
LGC Limited. Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LY
Tel: 020 8943 8400, Fax: 020 8943 8401, Website: http://www.lgc.co.uk/
Tel: 020 8943 8400, Fax: 020 8943 8401, Website: http://www.lgc.co.uk/
Orchid Cellmark Ltd (trading as Cellmark), Unit 16, Blacklands Way, Abingdon Business Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1DY
Tel: 01235 535 090, Fax: 01235 528 141, Website: www.orchideurope.com/, E-mail: enquiries@orchid.com
Tel: 01235 535 090, Fax: 01235 528 141, Website: www.orchideurope.com/, E-mail: enquiries@orchid.com
Crucial Genetics, F1 House, Road 4, Winsford Industrial Estate, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 3QN
Tel: 0870 8888 088, Fax: 0870 8888 089, 24 Hour Mobile: 07921 167 408, Website: http://www.crucialgenetics.com/, E-mail: info@crucialgenetics.com
Tel: 0870 8888 088, Fax: 0870 8888 089, 24 Hour Mobile: 07921 167 408, Website: http://www.crucialgenetics.com/, E-mail: info@crucialgenetics.com
Click here for for Calf DNA Frequently Asked Questions
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