Dead calves are likely to be tested for BVD at knackeries, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

In the latest attempt to ramp up the eradication of BVD from the national herd, the Department of Agriculture is looking at the possibility of testing calves declared as persistently infected (PI) at knackeries. This is to ensure that these are PIs.

Earlier this month, the Department announced that it was considering writing to neighbours of farmers who are retaining PI calves to inform them that PI calves remain in the area. The name-and-shame tactic has not yet commenced, but it is understood the Department is currently drawing up the necessary protocol around the plan.

However, IFA animal health chairman Bert Stewart said the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney must immediately clarify for farmers that the names of those who retained PIs will not be published in any format.

Stewart said that while there is strong demand from farmers to be notified if they are neighbouring a herd that has retained a PI, in order to take protective measures for their animals, this does not require the publication of a list of names and herd details.

“It must be borne in mind that farmers retaining PIs, while putting at risk the health of their own and possibly neighbouring herds, are not acting illegally.

“The issue of PI retention, which is now largely resolved due to the significant increase in the numbers disposed of over the past few months, arose due to the lack of meaningful financial supports for the farmers who experienced these disease breakdowns through no fault of their own,” Bert Stewart said, before adding that financial remuneration is the best way of removing PI calves.

Meanwhile, figures released by Animal Health Ireland show that for the first 16 weeks of 2015, a total of 1,586 herds continue to retain PI calves. The figures are being disputed, however, as they only take in the first 16 weeks of the year.