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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th January 2017
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BVD elimination scheme to commence in NI
cattle
“The EAA package includes a scheme to incentivise the humane removal of BVD infected animals."

Local livestock farmers to receive £4 million in financial aid

A new plan to eliminate animals infected with BVD will begin in Northern Ireland in the next few weeks.

In November 2016, agriculture minister Michelle McIlveen revealed a £4 million scheme to support local livestock farmers, delivered under EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA).

The support scheme offers financial aid, as follows:

  • £160 for a beef calf
  • £130 for a dairy heifer calf
  • £50 for a dairy male calf

The minister said: “The EAA package includes a scheme to incentivise the humane removal of BVD infected animals, as well as schemes to improve pig meat quality, manage soils and nutrients more effectively; and receive training in business planning and risk management.

“The required regulations were made and laid in the Assembly on 16 January 2017, and will come into operation on 1 February 2017. My department plans to open the BVD incentivisation scheme as soon as possible after that date.”

In order to receive payment, farmers must ensure that they meet the following criteria:

  • The births of all animals have been recorded on APHIS, in accordance with Regulation Six of the Cattle Identification (notification of Birth, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999
  • Infected animals fully comply with the requirements of the BVD Eradication Scheme Order
  • Animals have tested positive for the presence of BVD virus
  • Infected animas have not been moved from the farm on which they were born
  • Infected animals have been humanely destroyed
  • The deaths of all infected animals have been confirmed on APHIS within four weeks of receiving a positive BVD test result. An additional two weeks will be allowed where an applicant elects for repeat analysis of an initial positive result.


In summary, only farmers who meet these requirements and have humanely destroyed animals, on or after 1 February 2017, will be eligible for payment.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) emphasised the need to register each death with APHIS-on-line or through the submission of MC1, to DAERA. The Department also stated that a clear process, as well as key dates and a scheme guidance, would be released in the coming weeks.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.