Crusting around the nostrils is a symptom of bluetongue.
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China has suspended Irish beef exports following two cases of bluetongue on a farm in Co Wexford.
It comes just a week and a half after the Taoiseach announced that the market had reopened. Up until 12 January, Irish beef had been temporarily suspended since October 2024 following an atypical case of BSE.
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As part of the protocol agreed for beef exports, Ireland must inform China if a case of bluetongue occurs in Ireland.
“Officials are engaging with their Chinese counterparts on the matter,” deputy chief veterinary officer Dr Eoin Ryan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Testing
On Tuesday, test results showed that a second cow had tested positive for bluetongue virus. The cow was from the same farm as the cull cow that tested positive on Saturday.
Blood sampling of the entire herd took place, with the latest results showing that seven animals in total from the same farm have tested positive for bluetongue.
The cattle on the farm had no reported clinical signs or symptoms of bluetongue virus.
Over 800 blood samples of cattle have been taken for testing since 1 January 2026 as part of the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing surveillance for the virus, Dr Ryan said.
For more see www.farmersjournal.ie and this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, out Thursday.
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China has suspended Irish beef exports following two cases of bluetongue on a farm in Co Wexford.
It comes just a week and a half after the Taoiseach announced that the market had reopened. Up until 12 January, Irish beef had been temporarily suspended since October 2024 following an atypical case of BSE.
As part of the protocol agreed for beef exports, Ireland must inform China if a case of bluetongue occurs in Ireland.
“Officials are engaging with their Chinese counterparts on the matter,” deputy chief veterinary officer Dr Eoin Ryan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Testing
On Tuesday, test results showed that a second cow had tested positive for bluetongue virus. The cow was from the same farm as the cull cow that tested positive on Saturday.
Blood sampling of the entire herd took place, with the latest results showing that seven animals in total from the same farm have tested positive for bluetongue.
The cattle on the farm had no reported clinical signs or symptoms of bluetongue virus.
Over 800 blood samples of cattle have been taken for testing since 1 January 2026 as part of the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing surveillance for the virus, Dr Ryan said.
For more see www.farmersjournal.ie and this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, out Thursday.
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