Association of Herd Numbers

The Tuberculosis (TB) Control Order (NI) 1999 defines a herd as “…a group of animals kept, managed or housed together, on a holding in such manner and under such conditions as will in the opinion of a veterinary inspector minimize the possibility of infection to any other animals whether kept on the same holding or another holding”.

For disease control and prevention purposes the group of cattle that must be considered is the herd. The definition permits a herd to consist of cattle from one or more herd numbers.

For administrative purposes Veterinary Service links the different herd numbers, that constitute a herd, by “association”.

The aim of associating herd numbers is to establish epidemiological units (herds) for cattle by linking different herd numbers, on the APHIS computer, using clear unambiguous guidelines. By establishing which herd numbers constitute an epidemiological unit, control and prevention of, both enzootic (e.g. TB) and epizootic (e.g. Foot and Mouth), disease can be optimised.