McIlveen announces scheme targeting the removal of BVD infected animals

Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen today announced that a scheme aimed at the removal of animals infected by BVD will come into operation within weeks.

On 30 November 2016, the Minister announced a £4million package of support for local livestock farmers provided under EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA).

The Minister said: “The EAA package includes a scheme to incentivise the humane removal of BVD infected animals, as well as schemes to improve pig meat quality, manage soils and nutrients more effectively; and receive training in business planning and risk management.

“The required regulations were made and laid in the Assembly on 16 January 2017, and will come into operation on 1 February 2017. My Department plans to open the BVD incentivisation scheme as soon as possible after that date.”

To be eligible for payment herd keepers must ensure that each animal, meets the following criteria, i.e. that it had:

- notification of its birth recorded on APHIS, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Cattle Identification (notification of Birth, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999;

- fully complied with the requirements of the BVD Eradication Scheme Order;

- tested positive for the presence of BVD virus;

- not been moved from the farm on which it was born;

- been humanely destroyed; and

- its death confirmed on APHIS within four weeks of receiving a positive BVD test result.An additional 2 weeks will be allowed where an applicant elects for repeat analysis of an initial positive result.In summary this means that only animals which meet these requirements and which are humanely destroyed on or after 1st February 2017 will be eligible for payment.

DAERA is keen to emphasise that Herd Keepers are responsible for ensuring the death of the animal is confirmed via APHIS-on-line or by MC1 submitted to DAERA.

The Department would also remind Herd Keepers that they should not assume that the death will be recorded by the disposal agent or rendering plant.

The rate of financial assistance which will be available is

- £160 for a beef calf;

- £130 for a dairy heifer calf;

- £50 for a dairy male calf.

Department Officials are currently finalising the operational details of the scheme.  Full details of the scheme, including the claim process and conditions, will be published in scheme guidance and the exact date of the opening of the scheme will be published in due course.  The scheme will be delivered in a partnership between DAERA, AHWNI and the LMC.  The Department adopts a zero-tolerance policy to fraud.

Notes to editors: 

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2. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned. 

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