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Farmers are reminded that tissue tag testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) remains compulsory for 2018.
A list of suppliers of approved tags and of the laboratories approved to test each tag type is available from the Animal Health Ireland (AHI) website.
Farmers are advised to tissue tag-test calves as soon as possible after birth.
Where positive or inconclusive results are obtained, a veterinary practitioner should be consulted for advice on whether to remove the calf immediately or to conduct a retest.
Where a decision is taken to retest the calf, this must be done by means of a blood sample only (this also applies to testing of dams), AHI advises.
The Department will meet the costs of the visit by the herd’s veterinary practitioner and of testing the calf (and dam if sampled at the same time).
Veterinary investigations
All herds with PI calves born in 2018 are also required to undergo an investigation.
This is funded through the Rural Development Plan and delivered by a trained private veterinary practitioner within three months of the date of the first positive result.
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