The bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) national eradication programme provides an annual delivery to the economy of €184m in avoided losses, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has revealed.
Entering into its 14th year of mandatory tissue tag testing in 2026, AHI has outlined the details of the BVD action plan for next year.
The programme includes measures to further accelerate progress towards BVD freedom, while supporting farmers and the wider agri industry, according to AHI.
Speaking at an information meeting on Tuesday 16 December, BVD and IBR programme manager at AHI Dr Maria Guelbenzu said that the action plan will take a proactive and strengthened approach to tackling BVD in 2026 and beyond.
Areas addressed include:
1. Pre-movement tests to reduce risk of spreading infection to other herds.2. Tailored investigations for herds that are positive for more than one year.3. Application of tracing tools in herd investigations to identify risks and act early.4. Reinforced support for farmers and vets that are dealing with outbreaks to assist them in becoming disease-free as quickly as possible. 5. Develop and enhance training and resources to help farmers protect their herds from BVD and tools for vets working with at-risk herds.6. Promote good biosecurity practices in herds at risk so they can minimise the risk of BVD introduction. 7. Communications campaigns around breakdowns, including upgraded neighbour notifications by SMS and letter. Targeted campaigns in at-risk areas and promoting the dissemination of resources on how to protect herds. Commenting on the plan, AHI chair James Lynch said that the progress made under the eradication programme demonstrates what can be achieved when farmers, veterinarians, industry and Government work together towards a shared goal.
"With BVD now confined to a relatively small number of herds, the 2026 action plan represents an important step as we continue on an ambitious pathway towards BVD freedom.
"AHI, working with farmers, vets, the Department and industry, remains fully committed to supporting farmers through this critical phase and ensuring the long-term protection of Ireland’s national herd. We will continue to work with farmers to ensure we deliver this together.”
Meanwhile, Dr Guelbenzu said that real and tangible progress is being made in our ambition to eradicate BVD.
"Thanks to the commitment of farmers and industry, the programme has achieved remarkable progress: the number of BVD-positive herds has dropped from 11,000 when the programme started to approximately 200 now.
"This is an extraordinary accomplishment. Now is not the time to relax, however. We must double down and push forward as an industry to ensure there is no slippage and we reach our collective goal of BVD freedom as soon as possible.
"That is why the 2026 action plan for BVD is an important summary of the action points that AHI will address in 2026 to help Irish farmers achieve the goal of BVD-freedom," she said.
Economic impact
Also presented on the day was an overview of the annual economic impact delivered by the BVD eradication programme.
The report was carried out by business advisory firm IFAC, with scientific guidance from Dr Michael Gunn.
According to the report, the total economic benefit to Irish agriculture is €184.21m annually in avoided losses and reduced vaccination costs, against €10.3m to the farmer.
Commenting on the economic analysis, AHI CEO Patrick Donohoe said: “BVD is a very worrying disease for farmers to contend with. However, through the work of IFAC and Michael Gunn, we clearly see that the programme has delivered for farmers, the industry, the Government and the entire agri-food sector.
"Over the course of the last decade, we have seen more healthier calves on farms as the rate of BVD herds reduced. An annual delivery to the economy of €184m is a true reflection of the success of the programme and we must all focus our efforts as we push towards BVD freedom.”
The bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) national eradication programme provides an annual delivery to the economy of €184m in avoided losses, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has revealed.
Entering into its 14th year of mandatory tissue tag testing in 2026, AHI has outlined the details of the BVD action plan for next year.
The programme includes measures to further accelerate progress towards BVD freedom, while supporting farmers and the wider agri industry, according to AHI.
Speaking at an information meeting on Tuesday 16 December, BVD and IBR programme manager at AHI Dr Maria Guelbenzu said that the action plan will take a proactive and strengthened approach to tackling BVD in 2026 and beyond.
Areas addressed include:
1. Pre-movement tests to reduce risk of spreading infection to other herds.2. Tailored investigations for herds that are positive for more than one year.3. Application of tracing tools in herd investigations to identify risks and act early.4. Reinforced support for farmers and vets that are dealing with outbreaks to assist them in becoming disease-free as quickly as possible. 5. Develop and enhance training and resources to help farmers protect their herds from BVD and tools for vets working with at-risk herds.6. Promote good biosecurity practices in herds at risk so they can minimise the risk of BVD introduction. 7. Communications campaigns around breakdowns, including upgraded neighbour notifications by SMS and letter. Targeted campaigns in at-risk areas and promoting the dissemination of resources on how to protect herds. Commenting on the plan, AHI chair James Lynch said that the progress made under the eradication programme demonstrates what can be achieved when farmers, veterinarians, industry and Government work together towards a shared goal.
"With BVD now confined to a relatively small number of herds, the 2026 action plan represents an important step as we continue on an ambitious pathway towards BVD freedom.
"AHI, working with farmers, vets, the Department and industry, remains fully committed to supporting farmers through this critical phase and ensuring the long-term protection of Ireland’s national herd. We will continue to work with farmers to ensure we deliver this together.”
Meanwhile, Dr Guelbenzu said that real and tangible progress is being made in our ambition to eradicate BVD.
"Thanks to the commitment of farmers and industry, the programme has achieved remarkable progress: the number of BVD-positive herds has dropped from 11,000 when the programme started to approximately 200 now.
"This is an extraordinary accomplishment. Now is not the time to relax, however. We must double down and push forward as an industry to ensure there is no slippage and we reach our collective goal of BVD freedom as soon as possible.
"That is why the 2026 action plan for BVD is an important summary of the action points that AHI will address in 2026 to help Irish farmers achieve the goal of BVD-freedom," she said.
Economic impact
Also presented on the day was an overview of the annual economic impact delivered by the BVD eradication programme.
The report was carried out by business advisory firm IFAC, with scientific guidance from Dr Michael Gunn.
According to the report, the total economic benefit to Irish agriculture is €184.21m annually in avoided losses and reduced vaccination costs, against €10.3m to the farmer.
Commenting on the economic analysis, AHI CEO Patrick Donohoe said: “BVD is a very worrying disease for farmers to contend with. However, through the work of IFAC and Michael Gunn, we clearly see that the programme has delivered for farmers, the industry, the Government and the entire agri-food sector.
"Over the course of the last decade, we have seen more healthier calves on farms as the rate of BVD herds reduced. An annual delivery to the economy of €184m is a true reflection of the success of the programme and we must all focus our efforts as we push towards BVD freedom.”
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