Written answers

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Bovine Disease Controls

Photo of Tom FlemingTom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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96. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the compensation scheme for calves testing positive under the bovine viral diarrhoea compensation scheme, in view of the fact that the current compensation for these animals is totally inadequate, and this is causing hardship for farmers with infected herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22590/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The farming community stands to gain approximately €100 million per annum from the eradication of BVD. Notwithstanding these gains which fall exclusively to the farming community, I have introduced a system of supports towards the removal of persistently infected (PI) calves.

Earlier this year, in the context of the compulsory phase of the Programme now reaching its critical third year, I announced a re-focusing of financial arrangements for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected BVD calves born in 2015. The re-focused supports provide for an increased payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is shown to be disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test. A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test. For dairy herds, the focus of the supports available is on the loss of the dairy breed heifer calf where there is a payment of €100 for each PI calf born and disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test. A reduced payment of €50 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test.

In addition to the supports for removal of PI calves, my Department has committed to continue to provide, free of charge, a blood based test to confirm the PI status of those calves that give a positive test result on tag testing. The Department is also providing a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of PI cows.

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