The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced confirmation of his department’s continued support payments for Bovine Viral Disease (BVD) eradication.

Creed said he was satisfied with the progress in BVD eradication so far, and committed to continuing the payments system for the removal of persistently infected (PI) calves under the BVD Eradication Programme for 2019.

Speaking shortly before Christmas (Saturday, December 22), the minister highlighted that farmers had saved a total of €85 million in 2018, and furthermore, that cases of PI calves had fallen to 0.06% from 0.66% in 2013 – the year compliance with the programme became compulsory.

As well as the continued funding some measures will be tightened, including the system of automatic restrictions and notification of neighbours. This will now apply at three weeks after the original positive or inconclusive test, if a date of death is not recorded in the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system by that time.

The minister added that the system of herd investigation, after a case of a PI calf is disclosed, will continue in the new year and will see an increased level of testing.

According to the department, the system of investigation has “proven beneficial” to farmers, assisting them in eradicating the disease.

Imported animals will also be tested by department officials, and those with positive results will not qualify for support payments.

Minister Creed concluded his comments by thanking Animal Health Ireland and the BVD Implementation Group for their efforts in 2018.