New maps show improvements in the battle against bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), with a 15% drop in animal prevalence and a 22% reduction in herd prevalence to date. The maps, made in conjunction with UCD, DAERA, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and Welfare NI (AHWNI), show clear improvement in the eradication of the disease in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) since 2013.
New maps show improvements in the battle against bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), with a 15% drop in animal prevalence and a 22% reduction in herd prevalence to date.
The maps, made in conjunction with UCD, DAERA, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and Welfare NI (AHWNI), show clear improvement in the eradication of the disease in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) since 2013.
Map of retained persistently infected (PI) calves on the island of Ireland.
However, persistently infected (PI) calves remain a key issue in Northern Ireland, with the profile of PIs in the country on a similar level to the Republic three years ago.
The map indicates the number of PI calves that were on farms 35 days after a positive BVD result was issued to the herd owner.
“These maps clearly illustrate the problem of PI retention,” Dr Sam Strain of AHWNI said.
“Farmers who keep PIs greatly increase the risk of further disease in their herd and their neighbours’ herds. PIs must be disposed of as soon as possible. As an industry, we want to work together to eliminate the BVD virus from the NI cattle population as quickly as possible.”
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