Minister Confirms Continuation of Supports to Eradicate BVD
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T. D., today outlined his support for a pathway to Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) freedom by 2023 and the continued supports from his Department for the BVD Eradication Programme.
The Minister expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing progress being made in the eradication of BVD. The Minister noted that substantial savings are being achieved by farmers, with the incidence of BVD positive animals decreasing this year to just 0.03 % from 0.66 % in 2013 – the first year of the compulsory phase of the Eradication Programme.
The Minister said:
What could have caused an abortion in a cow or heifer?
Nearly every dairy and beef farmer will have experienced a cow or heifer aborting or ‘throwing a calf’ at some stage. There are several reasons why this happens.
These range from a simple slip or fall in the yard or shed, to pathogens infecting the pregnant cow or heifer. According to Teagasc, any illness where a cow has a very high temperature can result in abortion.
Aborting cows do not normally display signs of illness unless there is retention of the foetal membranes (afterbirth). An illness that occurs at the later stages of pregnancy can result in abortion or stillbirths.
December 16, 2020 12:00 pm
Philip Tyndall farms in a dairy partnership with his parents Anne and John at Ashgrove House, Gurteen, Templeshambo, near Enniscorthy. The Tyndall family milk a spring-calving herd of 140 high-EBI Friesian cows with some crossbreds and supply Glanbia Co-op.
Philip studied dairy herd management at the Teagasc Agricultural College in Kildalton. He is an active member of both Macra and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) as well as their local Teagasc Discussion Group and the IFJ Grass Group.
He is active on social media and has over 5,000 followers on
Twitter. The Tyndall Teagasc advisor is Martin Doyle based in Enniscorthy.
December 12, 2020 12:00 pm
During their productive life, pigs are frequently exposed to infectious bacteria that cause respiratory and digestive diseases resulting in a significant economic impact for the swine industry.
Medication for the prevention of disease, including nervous, intestinal and respiratory infections is common in many countries, including Ireland. But antimicrobials in food animals have become a scientific, political and public concern.
The safe use of antimicrobials is part of Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020 (INAP). The plan, and proposed legislation, means changes to the pig industry.
Vets and farmers are encouraged to reduce the amount of antibiotics given (especially in feed) and discouraged from using certain types of antibiotics (deemed critically important).