Department issues PIs next door notices

Breeding season notices are being issued by the Department of Agriculture to alert herdowners whose neighbours still have retained cattle persistently infected (PI) with BVD virus more than seven weeks after the first test.

The Department is invoking Section 10 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which provides that it may publish that an animal is affected with a disease, and the location of the holding where the infected animal is kept.

According to Animal Health Ireland, it is vital that all possible steps are taken to prevent the exposure of pregnant cattle to BVD virus, creating further PIs to be born in 2016.