Scheme to eradicate BVD wins support
A scheme implemented in Ireland to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is reported to have overcome initial opposition and received the support of farmers and livestock markets.
After a voluntary programme in 2012, new legislation was brought in requiring that all calves born on or after January 1, 2013 in the Republic of Ireland, must be tested for BVD. The sale of any calves testing positive for the disease was also banned.
Michael Lynch, CEO of one livestock market, Kilkenny Mart, said some farmers were initially opposed to the scheme, but most now viewed it as a positive benefit.
He said: "Some people thought it was going to be a hardship, and there was a bit of reluctance which you would always expect with a new regulation. But the programme has gone very smoothly and I can’t recall one instance of an animal being rejected."
Similarly, Martin McNamara of Ennis Mart in County Clare said the scheme had generally been well received by the market's customers, adding, "it is a three year programme and I suppose it will take two years before we see a result."
Prior to the launch of the scheme, it was estimated by the Scottish Agricultural College that BVD costs the cattle industry an estimated 102 million euros annually.
Eugene Smith of Novartis Animal Health said that livestock markets had proven to be a good sounding board for the programme as they were directly involved with its implementation and were in contact with farmers on a personal basis.
"The eradication programme seems to be running well so far, and one of its major attributes is that it is relatively simple to administer. Over time we will see a reduction in the number of PI (persistently infected) animals in the national herd which will have a net effect of boosting income within the cattle industry,” he said.
“Removal of PI animals from individual farms is a key tactic in the eradication of BVD and needs to be accompanied by vaccination with Bovidec BVD and good biosecurity to help prevent BVD re-entering the herd."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
