A payment of €140 will be provided for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is shown to be disposed of to a knackery within five weeks of the first test, while a reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within seven weeks of the first test.

For dairy herds, a payment of €100 will be provided for each dairy breed PI heifer calf born in a dairy herd that is shown to be disposed to a knackery within five weeks of the first test, while a reduced payment of €50 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within seven weeks of the first test.

Rules

The supports will only be available to herdowners who are compliant with the 2015 testing requirements and where all 2015 born PI’s are removed within seven weeks of the first test. All PI animals born in 2012, 2013 and 2014 are also required to be disposed of prior to 1 March 2015.

In addition, to be eligible for both the BVD support arrangements and to participate in the proposed Beef Data Genomics Programme and successor programmes, it will be a stipulation that no PI animals are present in the herd, with the exception of those recently born and within seven weeks of the first test.

The Department will continue to provide a free blood based test to confirm the persistently infected (PI) status of those calves that give a positive test result on tag testing and is also providing a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of PI cows.

Speaking about the importance of the BVD eradication programme, Minister Coveney said “whilst good progress continues to be made under this industry-led Programme, there are some critical issues remaining to be dealt with by the BVD Implementation Group if the programme is to be brought to a speedy and successful conclusion”.

In particular, the Minister identified a small number of non-participating herds and another relatively small number of farms on which a number of PI animals are being retained as posing a significant risk to the timeline for a successful conclusion of the programme. He said that these require urgent interventions to mitigate the risks.

Application forms will be issued directly to the farmers concerned from the BVD Supports Section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Register to read more

Herd Testing cost set to halve next year