The Ulster Farmers’ Union is notifying members that from 1 December 2025, the threshold for applying Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) herd restrictions will reduce to 10 untested animals (BVDUs) over 30 days old within a herd.
This change is part of the phased implementation of BVD control measures which came into force on 1 February 2025, and aims to help eliminate this serious and highly contagious disease from Northern Ireland’s cattle population.
Under the new threshold, herds with 10 or more BVDU status animals over 30 days old will be subject to herd level movement restrictions. These restrictions prohibit all moves into the herd and all moves out, except to direct slaughter or for disposal. Herds which have been associated by DAERA due to common disease risks will also be restricted.
The BVD control measures had been developed through engagement with Animal Health & Welfare NI (AHWNI), the delivery partner for the NI BVD eradication scheme and convenor of the BVD Implementation Group.
Further details of the measures, how and when they will be applied and how to avoid them is available on the DAERA website, click here to view.
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