Irish Farmer BVD Supports to Continue in 2016
IRELAND - Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, has confirmed that the farmer supports in respect of the disposal of PI (Persistently Infected) calves under the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Eradication Programme will continue in 2016.
2 December 2015
2 minute read
Announcing this, Mr Coveney said: “These supports are playing an important role in ensuring the early disposal of PI calves, with up to 2,500 farmers benefitting under the 2015 arrangements.”
The 2016 support arrangements will be as follows:
Beef Herds
- A payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.
- A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.
Dairy Herds
- A payment of €120 for each dairy breed PI heifer calf born in a dairy herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.
- A reduced payment of €70 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.
Mr Coveney said: ”The supports will only be available to those herd owners who are compliant with the 2016 testing requirements and where all 2016 born PI’s are removed within 7 weeks of the first test. In addition, it is a requirement that all PI animals born in previous years are disposed of prior to 31st December 2015, unless born within the last 7 weeks of 2015 where the normal 7 week disposal arrangements will apply.”
To be eligible for both the BVD support arrangements and to participate in the Beef Data Genomics Programme, it is a stipulation that no PI animals are present in the herd, with the exception of those recently born and within 7 weeks of the first test.
The Minister noted that, in view of the importance of the early removal of PI animals, his Department continues to place restriction notices on the relatively small number of herds retaining PI animals. These notices are assisting in the process of reducing the number of PI animals. The Department will also be conducting risk based testing of PI calves at knackeries from the New Year.
Concluding, the Minister added that his Department would continue to provide, free of charge, a blood based test to confirm the persistently infected (PI) status of those calves that give a positive test result on tag testing. The Department also provides a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of PI cows.
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