DEAR SIR: Last week you made reference to the BVD eradication programme in a constructive way, noting its success to date in reducing the prevalence of calves born persistently infected (PI) with BVD virus each year. You also identified the retention of PI animals by a “small minority” of farmers as a key issue to be addressed in bringing the programme to a successful conclusion.

While the number of herds retaining PI calves has reduced in each year of the programme (currently the database shows that only 230 of 83,500 breeding herds contain a PI animal more than seven weeks after its first positive test), it is critical that these animals are removed as quickly as possible and that all PI animals identified from here on are removed promptly. This is what we must concentrate on to achieve the target set at the beginning of this unique, industry-led programme of eradicating this costly disease by 2020.

The annual payback to farmers following eradication is estimated at €102m, with a significant proportion of these losses already being avoided.

Dramatic

Other recent commentary was more dramatic and, while it also urged completion of eradication, it included some remarks that need clarification.

Despite some setbacks, the programme has been very successful. In 2013, the number of PIs identified was 13,868. In 2016 to date this has reduced by more than four times, to 3,078. At the same time, the number of herds with positive results has reduced from 9,479 to 2,172. In addition, most breeding herds have achieved a negative herd status within the programme and, as a consequence, their costs for tissue tag testing have reduced by about 25%. Even after allowing for the cost of tag testing, the reduction in the level of infection is estimated to return a benefit to farmers of €66m in 2016.

Animal Health Ireland (AHI) is deeply indebted to the BVD Technical Working Group (TWG) for the work it carries out in the development and continued refinement of the BVD programme. The experts who participate in this group, in common with the other TWGs that contribute to the work of AHI, give their time free of charge. Neither AHI nor the BVD Implementation Group could operate without them and the farmers of Ireland are deeply indebted to them for their ongoing scientific input into the programme. The chairman of the TWG is a member of the Implementation Group and has consistently brought their views to the IG for information and action.

Last year, under the guidance of the TWG and the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (CVERA) at UCD, AHI commissioned experts at the Helmholtz Centre in Leipzig to develop a model of BVD in our national herd to support decision making by the Implementation Group. This work, in conjunction with that of the TWG and CVERA, is world-leading.

While this work has suggested how we see this programme out to its successful conclusion, the final decision on what steps will be taken next will be made by the Implementation Group.

However, key conclusions of this modelling work are the impact that PI retention has had on the programme to date and the importance of fully addressing this in future.

We are where we are, to use that familiar phrase. If we look back over the lifetime of the programme, the Implementation Group has met 73 times, representing a significant investment of time by all of the key stakeholders that are represented in this group. If some of us reflect, myself included, on some of the positions we adopted at various times, we would need a full length mirror! The blame game is over rated and serves little purpose except possibly for historical recording to learn from and not repeat.

Benefits

We can get this job done and the benefits are great. We are ahead of some of our competitors on this disease and behind on others.

The big question is do we always want to see disease control/eradication as a cost or as an investment in our future to secure more fully our livelihoods and the competitiveness of the Irish agri-food sector?

We can finish the job but the pace is in our hands. The Department of Agriculture has a significant role but so too do we all. It is incumbent on us to provide the environment and leadership to move to total freedom from this disease with no more BVD tagging, no more BVD vaccination and €102m annual benefit to farmers.