ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair Hugh Farrell has said he welcomes the decision to extend the closing date for the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) to midnight on 26 September 2023. “ICSA called for this extension so that clarity could be given around the inclusion of an IBR testing requirement as part of the scheme, and the implications of a positive test. We welcome the Department’s clarifications on the issues we raised, which will no doubt lead to a greater uptake of the scheme in the coming weeks,” he said.
The Department has confirmed that:
- Individual herd results will only be shared with the individual farmer and their vet.
- Sample results pertaining to specific herds will not be shared with the department.
- The sero-surveillance results do not impact on a farmer’s ability to trade animals.
ENDS
