Fermanagh a BVD hotspot

The latest analysis by Animal Health and Welfare NI suggests that there are significantly more herds in Fermanagh retaining animals persistently infected (PI) with BVD than in other parts of NI.

Between 1 January and 23 June 2020, over 20% of all NI beef herds that had an initial positive or inconclusive BVD result were in the Enniskillen DVO area. The next highest level was found to be in Newry DVO at 15%.

Across all of NI, figures from 1 July show that there are currently 421 BVD positive animals alive in 285 herds. Of these, 192 PI cattle in 128 herds have been retained on farm for more than 5 weeks. Retained PI numbers have fallen by over a quarter during June, mainly due to the new BVD standard in the FQAS.

No spike in TB rates on NI farms

The drop in bovine TB testing at the height of the coronavirus lockdown has not impacted on incidence rates of the disease in NI, DAERA’s chief vet has confirmed.

“So far, we seem to be okay as far as the shape of the disease curve is at the moment,” Robert Huey told MLAs on Stormont’s agriculture committee. Huey said that TB testing is now running ahead of typical levels for this time of year, and farmers are presenting calves under 180 days of age for testing, despite it not being mandatory.

At the end of April, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots raised the age requirement for testing from 42 to 180 days old to help facilitate social distancing between farmers and vets.

“Farmers are back testing the calves as well. They have found ways of doing it. We will be bringing it back to the minister to see if it’s time to revoke that particular derogation,” Huey said.