New payment rates have been announced to the financial supports under the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) programme for animals identified as positive in 2025, by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

Under the programme changes, compensation for a dairy-breed animal is increased from €160 to €200 and from €220 to €320 for a beef-breed animal.

These payments for calves born in 2025 will be made in 2026 to farmers who disclosed BVD positive or inconclusive animals in 2025.

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The Department has not confirmed the payment rates for 2026 calves or if there are any other changes to the terms of the scheme.

Efforts of farmers

Minister Heydon said: “The efforts of farmers in recent years in driving down the level of disease is acknowledged and appreciated. This has allowed me to amend the financial supports I can provide farmers within the existing budgetary allocation for the BVD programme.

“The BVD programme should be seen as a huge success, and it has received great support from all stakeholders.

“I would like to thank the work of Animal Health Ireland on the programme since its inception, and I am urging all stakeholders to work collectively to focus on reducing disease levels even further this year and achieving the eradication of this disease as soon as possible,” he said.