The number of BVD-positive calves identified through the National BVD Eradication Programme has increased from 423 animals up to the 51st week of 2024 to 522 calves up to the 51st week of 2025, a worrying rise of 99 calves, or 23%. Since 2013, this figure had been steadily decreasing and the spike in numbers is cause for concern.

The number of BVD-positive herds also increased from 189 in 2024 to 202 in 2025. Looking back to 2012, farmers participating in the voluntary programme were told that the testing would probably last for six years and cost the industry in the region of €50m. We are now entering our 14th year of testing with no finishing line in sight.

Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has pointed to Ireland requiring to test animals for a further period of time and this year’s increase in the number of positive animals is doing nothing to spell the end of BVD testing.

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Anybody who has had the nightmare of a BVD outbreak on their farm will attest to the benefits of the programme, but surely the last 14 years have taught us something.

Why was there not compulsory removal legislation introduced for the removal of persistenly infected (PI) calves, similar to the TB eradication programme?

Was the compensation package of €220/beef calf and €160/dairy calf too low to encourage farmers to remove BVD positive animals? Was there enough financial backing for AHI at the outset and did the programme have the buy in of all the stakeholders involved?

There is no disputing the gains that the National BVD Eradication Programme has achieved with a recent report published by ifac for AHI putting the economic benefit of the programme of the last 13 years of testing at €184m for the Irish industry. This has been achieved through reduced disease in herds, increased fertility and better animal performance in healthy herds free from BVD.

Farmers have invested in the programme – with tagging, testing and postage costs incurred, along with the extra labour of testing – but many feel that the swift eradication of BVD was over-promised to get industry buy-in at the very beginning of the programme, yet has still failed to deliver BVD-free status. Have lessons been learned?

Questions farmers are asking now: Is the current increase in numbers a change in direction due to people taking their foot off the throttle or should we resign ourselves to the fact that we will never be able to achieve BVD-free status and will always have a low level of the disease circulating in the national herd?

Everybody should do their very best to comply with the conditions of the scheme from testing to the swift removal of PI calves from herds. Bio-security controls also play an important role in containing the spread of any disease outbreak.

In the context of the BVD eradication programme, we now find ourselves heading for yet another cliff edge in relation to an IBR eradication programme.

From 1 July 2026, Dutch farmers will only be able to source calves from countries with a national IBR eradication programme. Ireland currently doesn’t have a such a programme and it could take years to get to a point where Irish calves could be exported again to the Netherlands should the new rules be implemented on 1 July.

Ireland exported 85,426 calves to the Netherlands in 2025 and the loss of this potential market is causing concern in the dairy industry.

We have had pilots, but as yet have not embarked on an official eradication programme. With live exports playing such a critical role in the cattle trade, it is important that movement is seen on this in 2026. While it is a little too late for the Dutch market, it could help secure other markets in the future.