Despite industry calls for a harder line to be taken against farmers who fail to dispose of calves persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), it would seem that any strengthening of the rules is some way off as yet.

Last week, the Ulster Farmers’ Union called on DAERA to put in place movement restrictions on herds that retain PI calves.

It is a position also supported by the industry body leading on BVD eradication, Animal Health and Welfare NI (AHWNI).

The argument put is that more effective action is required to rid NI of the disease. In the Republic of Ireland, which is three to four years ahead of NI on BVD eradication, herd movement restrictions, along with ‘‘name and shame’’ letters sent to neighbours of farmers who retain PIs, have been used in a final push to eliminate the disease.

A change in NI, bringing in movement restrictions, would effectively mean herds retaining PIs could not move any animals on or off the holding except to slaughter, disposal at a rendering plant or under a licence issued by the department.

Sufficient powers

At present, legislation in NI states that if DAERA has “reasonable grounds for supposing that BVD virus exists in a herd, the Department may, by notice issued to the keeper, prohibit the movement of any bovine into or from that herd on the keepers holding”.

However, on enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson confirmed that the focus of this legislation was on tag and testing, and it does not give the Department sufficient powers to generally apply restrictions to herds that fail to remove PI animals.

“We have worked collaboratively with industry on the introduction and implementation of the compulsory BVD Eradication Scheme and discussions are ongoing with AHWNI on further developing the BVD Scheme,” said the spokesperson.

They also confirmed that DAERA officials are willing to support the industry in work to enhance the NI scheme, with a view to bring forward proposals to enhance legislative requirements. However, these proposals would then have to go to public consultation. It means that any changes are not happening soon.