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Farmers who retain cattle persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) will be removed from the NI beef and lamb farm quality assurance scheme (FQAS) under new plans set to come into force in the next few weeks.
The latest figures from the start of November show that 427 PI animals in 283 herds have been retained more than five weeks after receiving a positive test result.
It is understood that around 70% of these herds are members of FQAS.
Up to this point, the disease status of an animal or herd on APHIS was not something DAERA was willing to share, citing rules around data protection. But after intense lobbying by the UFU, the Department has agreed in principle to provide the BVD status of FQAS herds to the LMC.
FQAS members who have retained PIs for more than five weeks will then be written to by the LMC, and the plan at present is that they will have 14 days to dispose of the animal (under law it can only go for rendering).
If this is not done within the timeframe, the FQAS status of the herd will be removed until the situation is rectified to the satisfaction of the LMC.
LMC industry development manager Colin Smith confirmed that once the animal is properly disposed of, the FQAS status will be immediately reinstated.
“There are some details yet to be confirmed, but we will be communicating with our members as soon as possible,” he said.
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