The increased cost of postage announced by An Post this week is to hit farmers sending both BVD and national genotyping programme (NGP) samples this spring.

The cost of sending a large envelope has risen by 55c, from €2.95 to €3.50. This equates to an increase of 19%, with the new pricing set to come in from 3 February 2025.

A large envelope can accommodate 500g. However, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has previously advised that farmers put 10 samples into a large envelope.

ADVERTISEMENT

For a farmer with 100 calves, the rise would cost them an additional €5.50 for BVD samples this year, if they were to put 10 samples into an envelope.

For a farmer participating in the NGP, the total cost will now be €70, an €11 increase. Again, this is based on 10 samples to the envelope.

Rise in cost

Going off 2.2 million calves born last year, the rise in postage is set to cost farmers approximately €121,000 on BVD samples alone.

Again, based on last year’s calf births, the total cost of posting BVD samples last year is estimated at €770,000.

The cost of sending BVD samples has risen by €1.40 since 2023 – there was a 35c increase in 2023 and a 50c increase in 2024.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal last week, AHI CEO Patrick Donohoe said that the industry must go “full throttle” to eradicate BVD in the coming years.