BSE negligible risk status for Northern Ireland

The World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) annual congress is expected to approve changing Northern Ireland’s BSE status from controlled risk to negligible risk this week.

The annual congress is being held in Paris from 21 to 26 May. In February 2017, the OIE’s Scientific Commission recommended that the status for NI be changed, so the approval should be a formality.

The potential boost to trade for NI from attaining negligible risk status has been estimated at £12m per year on the back of improved reputation in target markets and with rendering costs at factories also likely to reduce.

Scotland

Scotland has also applied for its BSE status to be changed from controlled risk to negligible risk at this year’s OIE congress. Negligible risk status can only be applied for if the last case of BSE was in a cow born more than 11 years ago.

At present, it will be 2020 before England and Wales are eligible to apply and it will be a year later before the Republic of Ireland can change its BSE status.

Blue bull sells for 7,000gns at Carlisle

A British Blue bull exhibited by Mel and Diane Lucas from Seven Mile Straight near Antrim sold for 7,000gns at the British Blue Cattle Society Show and Sale in Borderway Mart, Carlisle last week.

Luke Royal Fidget was the highest-selling bull at the sale from NI.

Topping the sale at 24,000gns and setting a new breed record was Dragon Blues Kai exhibited by Shropshire breeders GW and K Williams.