Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T. D., has announced additional financial support to farmers to help support Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) tag testing for 2023.
Minister McConalogue praised the significant efforts made by farmers in the past decade, which has resulted in the incidence of BVD positive animals decreasing from 0.66% in 2013, the first year of the compulsory phase of the Eradication Programme, to 0.03% this year.
Ireland has not recorded a confirmed BVD positive since May 2021.
In 2022, the Irish BVD programme was aligned with the European Animal Health Law (AHL) and official recognition of the programme was granted. Ireland has now achieved two of the three conditions for BVD free status: animal level prevalence, and the absence of a confirmed BVD case for 18 months. However, it is key that the final target of a national herd level prevalence of 99.8% of all herds free of BVD is achieved.
By maintaining the current focus on BVD eradication, Ireland should be positioned to apply for BVD free status by year end 2023.
Minister McConalogue stated: “The BVD eradication programme has brought Ireland close to achieving the goal of BVD freedom. This reduction in BVD prevalence has delivered benefits to all cattle herds, including better animal health and improved fertility, which, in turn, has helped to reduce antimicrobial usage and contributes to a more sustainable livestock sector.
“The success of the programme is due to the continuous hard work and determination of the farmers in working with my Department towards gaining BVD freedom. Notwithstanding this, huge achievement, it is vital that everyone continues to play their part to achieve BVD freedom. Excellent progress has been made over the past years and we must intensify our efforts to ensure success.’’
At the outset, BVD was costing Irish livestock farmers in the region €102 million each year and these costs would have lasted into perpetuity if the programme was not undertaken. With each passing year and with consistent improvement in the disease situation, farmers have benefited from the reduction in these losses.
The Minister added: “I am delighted to announce additional funding of €2.25 million to support the continuation of BVD tag testing for 2023. This will target breeding herds and in particular smaller breeding herds where the relative costs are the greatest.’’
The support provided will be by way of a payment of €2 per calf, will be made directly to farmers based on calves registered, up to a maximum of 25 calves per herd.
The Minister continued: “At this critical juncture, as we approach the achievement of BVD freedom, my Department will continue to provide a range of supports for BVD test positive herds to ensure that the risk of future disease breakdown is lowered and the risk to other herds is reduced. This will continue to deliver benefits to farmers by controlling and eradicating this disease. I commend farmers' ongoing commitment to the BVD eradication programme and urge everyone to work towards the target of achieving BVD-freedom next year”.
The Minister also confirmed that the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH), a mandatory herd epidemiological investigation, after disclosure of a BVD positive or inconclusive animal will continue.
Finally, the Minister thanked Animal Health Ireland and the Industry’s BVD Implementation Group for their valuable work in the course of 2022.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
A flat rate of €2 will be paid per calf registered up to the maximum of 25 calves on a holding.
EU Animal Health Law – BVD Freedom
To meet the requirements of the EU Animal Health Law, Ireland must achieve an 18-month period without the disclosure of a confirmed BVD persistently infected animal, with 99.8 % of cattle establishments BVD free, accounting for 99.9 % of the bovine population.