Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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835. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for BVD testing in view of the fact that it was initially introduced for a three year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1236/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The BVD Eradication programme is an Animal Health Ireland led collaborative programme with representation from the various industry stakeholders. The programme is overseen by the BVD Implementation Group (BVDIG). My Department is represented on the Group along with farmers, veterinary practitioners and industry experts. The primary testing/surveillance method is through the testing of ear tissue (taken by farmers using tissue tags) from all calves born. This is supplemented by funding from my Department for supplementary blood testing and financial supports as well as the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) visits by trained veterinary practitioners under the Rural Development Programme. The operational details of the programme are made by the BVDIG. The agreed 2019 programme foresees a continuation of the tissue tagging of calves, as well as the aforementioned further supports.

I am pleased to note that the programme results indicate very significant progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of this disease – with the Persistently Infected (PI) birth rate falling from 0.66% in 2013 (the first year of the Compulsory Programme) to 0.06% in 2018. Indeed, the number of positive herds has reduced considerably from 11.27% (9,485) of breeding herds in 2013 to 1.08% (815) herds in 2018. In the early years of the eradication programme, there was a reluctance by some herdowners to dispose of their PI calves at an early stage. The introduction of herd restrictions and a system of neighbour notifications to ensure that they can take the most appropriate biosecurity measures to protect their herds has helped speed up the removal process and this has greatly assisted the eradication programme.