Improved supports announced for BVD eradication programme

Farmers faced with the removal from their herds of calves persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea are to benefit from refocused and improved supports.

All calves born on or after January 1, 2013, must be tested for BVD and cannot be sold unless a negative test result is available in respect of the animal.

The estimated annual on-farm losses resulting from the disease are of the order of €102m. Eliminating these losses is the aim of the BVD Eradication Programme.