Today I had to send some sample koi for KHV and SVC testing

These tests are performed every 6 months.

3 weeks ago the KHV centre in Nagaoka supplied me with 10 koi which are known to be free of KHV and SVC and these were placed in a temporary pond with 5 koi I have selected from each of my systems. These koi are mixed together in the one pond and left for 3 weeks after which time they have to be killed and sent to Niigata for the government to test for both KHV and SVC.

The koi have to be killed before they are transported as they are sent by overnight courier. No chemicals can be used as these may corrupt the tests therefore the koi have to be killed naturally and the most humane method is to put them in a bowl with ice, although at this time of the year snow is used.

Once killed the koi are bagged and labelled and despatched by overnight courier to arrive at the Niigata test facility the following morning.

This is a very important process for the Koi industry and one which I am glad to participate in. Testing in this way helps to reassure us that the bio security measures that we take are working and that the koi supplied are healthy and fit to supply to our valuable customers.