15 OCTOBER 2019

ICSA Animal Health & Welfare chairman Hugh Farrell has said that compulsory BVD testing is required for all imported cattle.  “Every calf born in Ireland is required to be BVD tested. Farmers have complied assiduously with this requirement and their efforts are reflected in the fact that we have gone from 0.77% positives in 2013 to 0.04% positives so far in 2019.”

“We now need to get to a position as soon as possible where annual compulsory testing is no longer necessary for the very many herds which have never had a positive BVD calf. However, at this point, we need to be careful about letting BVD in the back door.”

ICSA believes that the BVD regulations need to be amended to ensure full testing of all imported stock.  “It doesn’t make sense that all Irish born calves have to be done, even in herds with a long history of being BVD free, while cattle can come in from abroad and only have to be tested if they are being sold to another herd.”

ENDS