Northern Ireland BVD scheme wins support
Compulsory testing for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) will be introduced in Northern Ireland, agricultural minister Michelle O'Neill has announced.
The news follows a consultation in which the BVA and its Northern Ireland branch called for a number of steps to be taken to eradicate the disease, including compulsory BVD testing.
The association also called for BVD to become a notifiable disease, as well as a ban on breeding from animals known to be infected with the disease.
Sandra Dunbar, president of BVA Northern Ireland Branch, said: "When we met with Minister O’Neill recently we told her that the BVD eradication scheme has the full backing of the veterinary profession and she acknowledged the important role that vets are already playing in educating clients about the benefits of BVD eradication.
"We are pleased that efforts are being coordinated with the Republic of Ireland, alongside other disease eradication programmes.
"Vets in Northern Ireland are ready to offer ongoing advice and support to clients on all aspects of disease management and eradication, including testing and biosecurity."
Just weeks prior to the announcement, the Scottish government revealed new control measures to form part of its BVD eradication programme.
Commenting on the news from Northern Ireland, BVA president Robin Hargreaves said: "Eradicating BVD will lead to increased production efficiency and better herd health, and has the potential to save the cattle industry millions of pounds.
"Most eradication programmes begin with voluntary measures and progress to compulsory measures to ensure compliance across the whole of the industry.
"With Scotland and Northern Ireland now engaged in compulsory BVD eradication schemes we hope the rest of the UK will look to learn from these examples."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
