The number of calves identified as Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) suspect or confirmed cases up to the first week of August is running 28.7% lower than the corresponding period in 2025. The latest results published by Animal Health Ireland under the national eradication programme shows 370 calves identified as suspect or confirmed cases, equating to a drop of 149 calves in the first seven months of the year, as detailed in Figure 1.

The number of herds in which BVD suspect or confirmed calves were identified also recorded a significant improvement, as evident in Figure 2, falling by 14.2% or 25 herds to 151 farms.

The performance is back in line with 2024, when the number of BVD calves fell by over 200 head on the previous year and was recorded at 462 head. This unfortunately jumped back up again by 176 in 2025, following a number of large herd breakdowns.

Stubbornly high figures

It is clear that the practices put in place on some farms have reduced issues, but cases remain stubbornly high on other farms. As can be seen in Table 1, counties including Cork, Limerick and Monaghan continue to experience significant disease problems. These counties account for one third of all herds with BVD and 36% of all BVD suspect or confirmed calves.

When outbreaks in Clare and Laois are added in there, that makes over 50% of all BVD calves located this year in just five counties.

Tighter controls

The figures need to continue to reduce, for Ireland to have any hope of achieving its target of moving to BVD-free status and bringing a long-awaited end to tissue tagging. Animal Health Ireland has told the Irish Farmers Journal that the focus of the BVD implementation group in 2027 will be to hone in further on the small cohort of herds in certain regions that are repeatedly identifying BVD calves despite assistance available to remedy this situation.

Dr Maria Guelbenzu, BVD programme manager with AHI, told the Irish Farmers Journal that the focus for 2027 will be on building on the strong 2026 trend, while turning attention to herds with recurring problems.

“Thanks to the huge efforts of farmers, vets and the wider industry, there has been a strong downward trend in BVD cases in 2026. We are very close to BVD freedom, and we must now double down to eliminate the disease. A focus for 2027 will be working with the Technical Working Group and Implementation Group to really target the herds experiencing repeat breakdowns.

“A small number of these herds account for stubborn pockets of infection around the country, and where breakdowns keep recurring in the same herds, we need to get to the root cause of that and what is driving it. These herds are a genuine risk to their neighbours. BVD is highly transmissible and the outstanding work of 99.9% of farmers cannot be undermined by the few whose herds keep breaking down. By working together and taking strong decisions now, we can reach BVD freedom as quickly as possible.”