This was the first meeting of this more hands-on, delivery-focused group since a wider industry meeting involving Animal Health Ireland (AHI), the Department of Agriculture, farming organisations, vets, dairy processors and breeding societies agreed the principle of a voluntary programme last week.

AHI chairman Mike Magan told the Irish Farmers Journal after Friday’s meeting that the principle of a three-way partnership between farmers, milk processors and the State was now well established. The next big discussion point in the New Year will how to share the costs between the three.

The programme is expected to comprise an intervention by a specially-trained vet on each participating farm and regular testing. Each farmer will be given a choice to enter the programme or not.

Listen to an interview with Joe O’Flaherty on the prospects and challenges for the proposed programme in our podcast below:

Listen to “AHI's Joe O'Flaherty on Johne's disease” on Spreaker.

Full coverage: Johne’s disease

Johne's disease implementation group meets to prepare eradication programme

The industry group tasked with starting up a voluntary scheme to eradicate Johne's disease in cattle in the coming year met this Friday.