Animal Health and Welfare NI have welcomed the DARD Consultation to make BVD testing Compulsory in Northern Ireland from next year.
AHWNI is an industry led, not for profit organisation set up to tackle non-regulated production diseases in Northern Ireland. The company is made up of all the key industry stakeholders including, Farming Organisations, Breed Societies, Veterinary Associations and Processors. They work on an all island basis in conjunction with Animal Health Ireland to maximise the effectiveness of disease control programmes.
John Thompson, AHWNI Chairman, “I am delighted with the progress and commitment shown by both Farmers and DARD to the BVD Eradication Scheme. Without legislation to make tissue tagging compulsory, BVD will never be eradicated from NI due to herd reinfection. Not only will eradication result in significant savings at farm level, it will ensure that NI upholds its live trade with other countries and regions where schemes are already in place. It is imperative that NI is kept in line with ROI who started tissue tagging on a compulsory basis from 1st of January this year”.
AHWNI felt that BVD was the primary production disease to tackle in NI as with full commitment eradication can be achieved in a short time scale. AHWNI are currently working with AHI to come up with a Johnes Control Programme and with support from the industry hope to go on to look at other important production such as IBR.
