The number of cattle still alive a number of weeks after testing positive for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is down significantly.

Figures from Animal Health and Welfare NI show that at 1 May 2018, a total of 954 animals were alive, compared with 1,299 on 26 March, a 27% reduction. That comes after the wider beef industry agreed to implement a ban on persistently infected (PI) animals entering the food chain from 1 May.

With movement off the farm also restricted, it means that the owners of these 954 animals effectively have no economic outlet.

Rate of disposal

The data from AHWNI also show that there has been an increase in the rate of disposal of PI calves on receipt of a positive BVD result.

The number of calves that have been culled within 35 days of a PI status being applied has increased from 63% in January 2018, to 71% in February 2018. It is hoped that this rate will increase as the year progresses.

Veterinary advice is to cull PI cattle at the earliest opportunity as they represent a major disease risk to other stock on the farm as well as stock on neighbouring farms.