Under the bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) eradication scheme order, farmers in NI have been required to tag and test all calves born on or after 1 March 2016. Only animals that have a negative BVD test result are permitted to move to other holdings.

However, it took DAERA until 12 February 2018 to upgrade APHIS to allow farmers, mart owners or collection centres to be able to have sight of the BVD status of cattle. In the intervening period, it seems that a number of cattle, born after 1 March 2016, but untested for BVD, have managed to slip through the net.

According to local mart owners, a number of recent instances have occurred where farmers who bought these cattle have presented them for re-sale, only to be turned away after it became clear that the animal does not have a valid test result.

The mistake lies with the farmer who originally sold the animal without testing it for BVD. In theory, under the legislation they have committed an offence.

However, sources suggest that there is currently little appetite within DAERA to pursue these sort of cases.

In early 2017, the Department put out over 2,400 letters to farmers who they suspected of moving calves, born after 1 March 2016, but without a negative BVD test. A significant number of these letters went out in error.

On enquiry, a spokesperson for Animal Health and Welfare NI (AHWNI), the body leading the BVD eradication programme, told the Irish Farmers Journal that while the legislation is in place, the principle of ‘‘buyer beware’’ also exists. That would probably make it difficult for a farmer to pursue any sort of legal action against the person who originally sold the calves untested.

Instead, the advice is to contact AHWNI to discuss options and clarify the situation. A button tag could be used to take a suitable BVD sample for testing. Ring AHWNI on 028 79639333 or email info@animalhealthni.com.

BVD cattle stopped from moving through NI marts