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An imported heifer from France has been detected with Bluetongue in Northern Ireland.
Although not deemed an “outbreak” until the disease is found to be circulating, farmers have been warned to remain vigilant.
The UK remains officially Bluetongue-free.
Restricted herd movements
Earlier this year, French cattle farmers were ordered to restrict their herd movements and vaccinate animals against the disease.
Bluetongue does not cause harm to humans, but can reduce milk yield and fertility in animals.
In October, imported cattle and sheep in Britain were found to have the disease.
“The Department is also tracing and testing associated herds and an epidemiological investigation has been initiated to assess the situation," according to a DAERA statement.
"This investigation will help determine if disease is circulating. However, as we are now outside the active midge period, this is highly unlikely.”
Northern Ireland has just published new figures on the carbon intensity of its milk.
Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published its carbon intensity indicators for 2016, showing that 1kg of milk at standard fat and protein content was associated with greenhouse gas emissions of 1.285kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
This is a reduction of one third on 1990 levels.
"Whilst milk production in the dairy sector has expanded by 66% since 1990, the total number of dairy cows over this period has remained relatively static, meaning this improvement has been driven by substantial increases in milk yield per cow," according to a DAERA statement . The carbon efficiency of milk has also improved faster than the rest of Northern Ireland's economy.
Republic
In the Republic, emissions from 1kg of standard milk amounted to 1.14kg CO2e. While there's no recent European comparison, a 2011 official study found the Irish carbon intensity of milk to be the lowest in the EU.
Meanwhile, 1kg of Irish beef was responsible for 11.58kg of emissions in 2016. Those values continue to improve every year.
Read a full explanation of the way greenhouse gas emissions are calculated in Thursday's Irish Farmers Journal.
John Brooks pictured with his family at the west region Texel club annual show and sale of in-lamb shearling ewes and maiden ewe lambs at Roscommon Mart on Friday night, 7 December.
Weather forecast
Tonight will become quite windy, with freshening southerly breezes.
It will be predominantly dry, but there will be a few patches of rain and drizzle about.
Minimum temperatures of 5°C to 9°C, according to Met Éireann.
Tuesday will see a dry day in many central and eastern counties.
Rain will extend across most of Munster and Connacht by the afternoon.
Rain will then gradually spread eastwards during the evening, with some heavy bursts possible.
Highest temperatures of 10°C to 13°C in moderate to fresh south to southeast winds.
In the news
The Ballygawley Veterinary Clinic in Northern Ireland has been issued with an improvement notice after being found to be contravening a number of regulations.
The Ballygawley Veterinary Clinic in Northern Ireland has been issued with an improvement notice after being found to be contravening a number of regulations.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in the UK stated that it had found the practice to be supplying unauthorised veterinary medicine.
There were no Republic of Ireland farms involved in the notice
The VMD stated it had discovered: “Wholesale dealing of unauthorised veterinary medicinal products to other veterinary practice premises without a wholesale dealer's licence.”
The practice had also been found to be supplying farms with veterinary medicine without sufficient evidence that the animals were under the care of vets or that a clinical assessment of the animals had been carried out.
Although there had been some concern that sales of unauthorised veterinary products were travelling south of the border, a spokesperson for the VMD stated: “I can confirm that there were no Republic of Ireland farms involved in the notice concerning Ballygawley Veterinary Clinic.”
Improvements
The VMD stated that a number of improvements needed to be made by the practice.
All wholesale activities must cease and all supplies of Singvac and Botulism Vaccine must have a valid special treatment certificate and must only be supplied to the named farm with the volume stated on the certificate.
“All supplies must cease until such time as procedures have been implemented to ensure that all supplies occur in accordance with the certificates,” the VMD stated.
Adequate records must be put in place to show that antibiotics prescribed to animals were needed, according to the VMD.