Stephen Cadogan: Animal Health Ireland of huge benefit to farmers

Animal Health Ireland must be commended on its slow and steady progress in disease eradication.

Receiving only €530,000 of state funding in 2014, the group is well on the way to securing the health of our dairy and beef herds, the cornerstones of our €10bn per year food and drink exports.

Established in 2009, it is best known to farmers for its programme to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD, from the national cattle herd by the end of 2020. Success will be worth €102m per year to farmers.