Herds which identify Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) positive animals in 2026 will be faced with tougher movement restrictions, following this week’s announcement of Project BVD 2026 – Animal Health Ireland’s plan to accelerate progress towards BVD-freedom.

AHI said the strategy has broad agreement from farm organisations with the movement restriction described as twofold in its objective – “suppressing BVD in the most at risk herds, but supporting farmers to be able to restart trading as quickly as possible”.

Herds which identify BVD positive animals already face strict restrictions once a BVD-positive or BVD-inconclusive animal is identified, with herds immediately restricted from moving animals in or out of the herd, while neighbouring herds are identified.

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Movements are granted on a case-by-case basis by the relevant regional veterinary office for animals moving direct to their destination. Such herds are also subject to whole herd testing.

Under the new restrictions immediate herd restriction will continue to apply along with whole herd testing. Animals will no longer be able to be moved by permit and instead any animals that are required to be moved off farm will only be allowed to do so following a pre-movement test to ascertain BVD status until such a time that the herd is viewed as posing no risk of spreading the infection.