“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," said Coveney.

The Department of Agriculture will continue to place restriction notices on the relatively small number of herds retaining persistently infected (PI) animals. The Department will also be conducting risk-based testing of PI calves at knackeries from the new year.

The 2016 support arrangements will be as follows:

Beef herds

  • A payment of €140 for each beef breed PI calf born in a suckler herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within five weeks of the first test.
  • A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves removed within seven 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 five weeks of the first test.
  • A reduced payment of €70 will apply in respect of such calves removed withinseven weeks of the first test.

    • The Department will continue to provide, free of charge, a blood-based test to confirm the 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.

    However, the supports will only be available to those herd owners who are compliant with the 2016 testing requirements and where all 2016 born PI calves are removed within seven weeks of the first test.

    "In addition, it is a requirement that all PI animals born in previous years are disposed of prior to 31 December 2015, unless born within the last seven weeks of 2015 where the normal seven-week disposal arrangements will apply," said Minister Coveney.

    To be eligible for both the BVD support arrangements and to participate in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, it is 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.

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