April 19, 2023

Irish minister urges caution as BVD eradication programme nears critical juncture

 

Irish Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has urged farmers to be cautious as the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme in the country approaches a critical juncture, The Irish Examiner reported.

McConalogue called for "renewed caution" and asked farmers to focus on biosecurity ahead of the breeding season, which is considered a high-risk period for the generation of BVD persistently infected (PI) cattle.

A spokesperson from Ireland's Department of Agriculture said natural immunity to BVD is decreasing as the national prevalence of BVD decreases, along with reduced levels of vaccination across the country, making many herds more susceptible to infection.

Officials have identified the emergence of a small number of local clusters of infection, with the infection spreading between herds. This is thought to result from the movement of animals, equipment and people.

Irish farmers are being asked to focus on biosecurity to protect their herds and support the final push towards BVD freedom. Attention should be paid to a number of aspects ahead of the breeding season. Herds where infection has been identified should engage with Animal Health Ireland's Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) programme, expedite the removal of all infected cattle and complete the vaccination programme.

Since the start of the BVD eradication programme in Ireland in 2013, there has been significant progress, with the herd level incidence falling from 11.27% in 2013 to 0.26% at the end of 2022.

Ireland's national BVD programme was approved by the EU Commission last year. McConalogue acknowledged the tremendous progress made by Irish farmers in the elimination of BVD, adding that by working collaboratively, the disease could be eradicated as soon as possible, providing long-term benefits for livestock farmers in the country.

-      Irish Examiner