Our cow Mavis was born in April 2005, the offspring of an Angus bull and a Hereford cross suckler cow. She became in calf for the first time and, after an uneventful pregnancy, started calving in June 1977. It was a difficult calving and eventually the bull calf was born dead. It had to be pulled and this process damaged Mavis. She had severe swelling around her rump and possible internal damage.

The vet prescribed both antibiotics and anti-inflammatories which were started the day after the calving. She had a total of 100ml Streptomycin at the rate of 20ml per day for five days and a total of 30ml of Metacam at the rate of 15ml on two occasions at a three day interval. Hibiscrub antiseptic wash was also used to keep her rear area clean over this period.

Twelve days after the last dose of Streptomycin and 13 days after the last dose of Metacam, the first TB test was carried out on the whole herd. Mavis was still significantly swollen and in some discomfort. The second TB test was carried out after 3 days as usual. Mavis tested positive but the rest of the herd was clear. Mavis was given a further 15ml of Metacam and 60ml of Engymycin by the vet who carried out the TB test. She was also treated with 250ml of spot-on insecticide the day after this positive TB test.

Towards the end of August 2007, almost six weeks after testing positive, she was killed on farm. The post mortem and laboratory tests received just over two months later showed no visible lesions and negative results from the tissue cultures. A further TB test was carried out on the remainder of the herd after 60 days as required by the Regulations. All animals tested negative and the movement restrictions imposed after Mavis tested positive were lifted at the end of October 2007.

Reasonable compensation was paid for Mavis (around £600) , especially as it seemed as if she had suffered permanent damage and was unlikely to calve again. It seems however very questionable whether she ever had TB but rather that the positive test was due to a combination of stress following the calving and possibly interaction with the medication she subsequently received.