Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O’Neill announced that testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) virus in new-born calves came into effect on 1st March 2016.
Pictured (left to right) John Thompson (Chairman, AHWNI), Minister O'Neill, Dr Sam Strain (CE AHWNI)
From the 1st March 2016 it is illegal to sell calves born on or after this date unless they have tested negative for BVD.
Addressing industry representatives at Stormont on the 1st March 2016 Minister O’Neill outlined how the BVD eradication programme will improve profitability and protect trade opportunities for farmers across the north.
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She said: “The BVD eradication programme begins today with compulsory testing for bovines, including still-borns and abortions. This will help to ensure that herds reach their full health potential, which in turn will increase profitability for herd keepers, whilst protecting trade opportunities for farmers across the north
She added: “This legislation will ensure that the requirement on our herd keepers here to tag and test will be better aligned with those in the rest of Ireland and that this development will be a significant step towards our long-term aim of eradicating BVD from the herd in the north.
Full article of the BVD launch may be viewed at:
https://www.dardni.gov.uk/news/oneill-announces-commencement-bvd-eradication-programme