Minister Heydon announces additional financial support for farmers towards BVD eradication
- Published on: 1 April 2025
- Last updated on: 4 April 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced additional financial support to farmers to help assist Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) tissue testing for 2025.
As Ireland approaches BVD freedom status with further progress made in reducing the incidence of BVD in 2024 and recognising the benefit of a partnership approach to this programme and others, Minister Heydon has provided an increase in the support to farmers for tissue testing as part of the BVD programme.
Minister Heydon said:
“In recognition of the efforts of farmers in reducing the levels of this disease and as we work to reach our end goal of freedom from and eradication of the disease, I am increasing the levels of support to €3.50 per calf tissue tested up to a limit of 25 calves per herd. This increase of approximately 45% per tissue test supported, will assist farmers in further driving the levels of the disease.”
Minister Heydon emphasised the importance of continuing to take all measures necessary to build on the progress made in reducing the levels of this disease in recent years:
“It is widely recognised that the final stages of any eradication programme are very challenging, with a population that is increasingly susceptible to the disease. That is why we must ensure that the efforts of all those in combating a disease which was costing farmers an estimated €102 million per year in reduced productivity when this programme started are not undermined as we move closer to the goal of the BVD programme.”
The reduction in BVD prevalence in breeding herds from 0.66% in 2013, the first year of the compulsory phase of the Eradication Programme, to 0.02% in 2024 has delivered benefits to all cattle herds, and to society, including better animal health and improved fertility, which, in turn, has helped to reduce antimicrobial usage and contributes to a more sustainable livestock sector.
Minister Heydon also took the opportunity to acknowledge the work and contributions of all stakeholders in the progress made in the reduction in the levels of the disease and emphasised the importance of the collaborative approach taken in the success of the programme:
“The BVD model has been a novel one to deliver a national disease eradication programme. However, we know that disease outbreaks are a risk unless we maintain and improve our momentum. We cannot afford to slow our control measures if BVD free status is to be achieved. I would like to thank Animal Health Ireland and the industry’s BVD Implementation Group for their combined efforts over the course of the programme.”
Notes
A flat rate of €3.50 will be paid per calf registered up to the maximum of 25 calves on a holding.
EU Animal Health Law – BVD Freedom
To meet the requirements of the EU Animal Health Law, Ireland must achieve an 18-month period without the disclosure of a confirmed BVD persistently infected animal, with 99.8% of cattle establishments BVD free, accounting for 99.9% of the bovine population.