There were six PI animals over six months of age in six herds this week, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Dáil.

The incidence of BVD has dropped again since the start of this year, with the incidence of PI animals to date in 2018 standing at 0.05%. This is half the incidence measured last year, when 2,391 PI animals brought this rate to 0.1%.

"Progress to date with the programme has been excellent and a very high percentage of herds comply with the requirement to test their calves," Minister Creed said. This is despite difficulties with empty testing tags emerging recently.

The Department of Agriculture received 1,015 applications for payment for the disposal of PI calves in 2017 by last month's deadline and is currently processing them for payment.

The drop in BVD incidence comes after efforts to combat the disease moved up a gear last year with a sharp increase in the number of name-and-shame letters sent to the neighbours of farmers retaining PI calves.

Northern Ireland has stepped measures against BVD too, with new restrictions on access to marts and factories for infected animals.

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