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The wild deer population is carrying very low levels of BVD and IBR diseases and is free of bluetongue, according to a study carried out by scientists in the Department of Agriculture, AHI and UCD.
Levels of the Schmallenberg virus are in line with what is reported in cattle and sheep.
The study looked for the presence of antibodies that would indicate exposure to BVD, Schmallenberg and bluetongue viruses in samples taken from 390 deer killed by licensed hunters across the Republic and Northern Ireland. It looked for antibodies relating to the virus that is linked to IBR disease. Hunters were provided with sampling kits, instructions, a submission form and packaging for retuning samples. They identified the date and location of sampling as well as the species, sex and age of the animal.
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