The number of retained BVD-positive animals in Northern Ireland has fallen below 200 for the first time.

Figures from July show that there are currently 421 BVD positive animals alive in NI in 285 herds. Of these, 192 BVD-positive cattle in 128 herds have been retained on-farm for more than five weeks.

Retained PI numbers have fallen by over a quarter during June, largely as a result of the new BVD standard in the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS).

Over 100 FQAS members who had retained PI cattle were contacted by the LMC last month. Retention of a PI is now a non-conformance under the scheme rules.

The number of BVD positive cattle alive at any one time fluctuates as new cases emerge and other cases are culled.

However, the overall pattern for the NI Eradication Programme is that the prevalence of disease at the animal level has reduced significantly since the compulsory programme was introduced.

BVD-positive animals should be isolated to avoid further transmission of the virus to susceptible animals (particularly breeding stock) in their own and neighbouring herds.

There is also a voluntary abattoir ban in place on accepting BVD-positive animals born on or after March 1, 2016, for slaughter.

The industry’s aim is to eradicate this costly disease from Northern Ireland to reduce animal health and welfare problems including infertility, abortions, calf pneumonia and scours, and to improve farm profitability.