Farmers across Northern Ireland are being urged to act quickly as new bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) regulations come into force on December 1, tightening the rules for herds with untested cattle, and risking costly disruptions for cattle that are late for testing.
The Department of Agriculture and Agriculture (DAERA) has confirmed that the threshold for triggering herd-level restrictions will drop to 10 untested animals over 30 days old (BVDU). Any herd that reaches or exceeds that number will be subject to immediate movement restrictions.
The changes are part of the gradual rollout of Northern Ireland’s enhanced BVD eradication measures, introduced earlier this year to eradicate the highly contagious and economically damaging cattle disease.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said he was encouraged that “most farmers are aware of the impact this disease has on productivity and profitability”, pointing to a 42% reduction in untested animals over the past year.
But he warned that around 9,000 cattle with BVDU status remained across Northern Ireland, some of which “may be infected with the virus” and continue to pose a risk within and between herds.
Under the new rules, herds containing more than 10 untested animals over 30 days old will be restricted, and all internal and external movement will be prohibited, except for direct slaughter or disposal. Related herds identified by DAERA due to common risk factors will also face restrictions.
Mr Muir warned that about 180 more herds could fall under these regulations in December if action is not taken now. “There is no need to restrict herds because of untested animals,” he said, urging farmers to promptly perform tissue testing on calves and ensure that older BVDU cattle are tested using additional ear tags or veterinarian blood draws.
For affected herds, the restrictions could delay regular sales, interrupt winter housing plans and put further financial pressure on already tight profit margins.
The Animal Health and Welfare Institute (AHWNI), which runs the eradication program, also welcomed the stricter standards. Chief executive Dr Sam Strain said farmers had made “significant progress” but stressed that infections could still exist in untested animals. Identifying them is essential to achieving complete eradication, he said.
BVD remains one of the most harmful cattle diseases in the UK, affecting productivity, health and fertility. Persistently infected (PI) calves shed virus throughout their lives and are the main source of infection.
DAERA urges herd keepers to familiarize themselves with the latest regulations and complete all necessary inspections to avoid restrictions and disruption this winter.
