Increase in BVD PI Compensation & Full Funding of Testing Needed – IFA
IFA Animal Health Chair David Hall has called for an immediate increase in compensation for BVD PI calves (Persistently Infected). The current levels no longer reflect the reality of the cattle market and are leaving farmers significantly out of pocket.
“Significant increases in the value of calves in recent years have left BVD compensation for PI calves unacceptably low. The existing rates of €220 for a calf from a suckler-breed dam and €160 for a calf from a dairy-breed dam are only a fraction of the value on the open market.”
Uncovering a PI animal creates significant hardship on farms at an already busy time of year. When a PI is identified it brings increased workload through additional testing requirements and the retention of calves that otherwise would have been sold. This places additional pressure on farm families during the busiest period of the year.
Farmers have made a major financial commitment to the BVD eradication programme since its introduction in 2013. “Farmers have directly invested more than €120m in the BVD programme and have removed PI animals from their farms for values well below the open market value of similar uninfected animals. They have played their part in driving this programme forward.”
David Hall acknowledged the progress achieved and the wider benefits to dairy co-ops, meat processors, and cattle finishers as well as the reduction in antibiotic usage; improved animal performance; and younger age of slaughter. All support key national policy objectives. But he warned that the programme is now stagnating at low levels of infection.
“The BVD programme has made huge progress in reducing disease levels in the national herd, but it is now stagnating, which will delay the target of disease freedom in the country. Suckler and dairy farmers cannot be left to continually carry the burden of the BVD programme when the benefits of eradication extend far beyond the farm gate. Maintaining farmer trust in the Animal Health Ireland model is essential for the success of current and future disease control programmes.”
