The rate of persistently infected (PI) calves on Irish farms is declining according to the latest Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) eradication programme figures from Animal Health Ireland.
The rate of PI calves is declining.
The number of PI calves recorded alive last week was 2,304 in 1,266 different herds. This broke down to 823 calves in 423 dairy herds, 1,247 calves in 723 beef herds and 234 calves in 120 dual purpose herds.
To date this year (Week 31) 5,046 herds (6.58pc) have tested positive for PI compared to the overall 2013 figure of 9,442 (11.25pc). The rate of calves testing positive is running at 0.47pc compared to the overall rate of 0.77pc last year.
But while the overall trends are encouraging, an AHI spokesperson said some beef herds are still holding on to persistently infected calves, particularly in suckler herds, in the hope of getting them up to selling weight.
The AHI year to date figures to show that 5,046 PI calves were recorded dead – a culling rate of 70.3pc compared to 56.2pc at the same time last year.
It’s understood, however, that there was a marked increase in cullings before the August 1 deadline for farmers applying for the Beef Genomic Scheme.
The national BVD eradication programme three years of monitoring was launched in 2013 to tackle a problem that’s estimated to cost Irish agriculture €100m per annum. The programme involves three years of monitoring.
*AHI figures to end of Week 31 (July 28- August 3).
(Source – Irish Independent – Indo Farming – 12/08/2014)