DEAR EDITOR,

The news that calf exports to the Netherlands could be affected in future is a big concern and that IBR could contribute to preventing this vital calf export market is very worrying.

This risk has been identified in previous discussions on the merits of us having a national IBR programme but maybe we should revisit this topic?

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We are regularly faced with “new” challenges like schmallenberg and bluetongue, so tackling known risks like IBR makes sense.

IBR is a nasty viral disease that costs Irish farming over €60m per year.

Anyone that has experienced an outbreak will want to see something done.

Sure we can vaccinate, but we can also get to a stage where this particular disease can be eliminated.

IBR can be a “threshold” disease, in other words, when it is prevalent, it allows other conditions to develop.

In some cases, this necessitates the use of antibiotics which is something that we must reduce.

We have made great strides in antibiotic reduction in farming, more of this would be even better.

The good news is that many cattle in Ireland are currently vaccinated against IBR, so we are well down the road. A co-ordinated test and vaccination policy will deliver us to our goal.

We have a tendency to treat disease control as an irritation, an inconvenience.

It would be a great shift if we can see it as something that enhances lifestyle and improves profitability.

Changes in farming and climatic shifts will expose us to new challenges. Doing nothing about the existing diseases is not sensible.

We have the tools to do this. The Department for regulation, Teagasc for the economic case, AHI for delivery and the farm organisations for leadership. Come on, we can do this.