A farm organisation has described bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) valuations and processes as "underfunded, cumbersome and ineffective".

Chairperson of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) dairy committee, Noel Murphy, has welcomed the contribution from Minister Martin Heydon towards updating values in the BVD Financial Support Programme.

However, he said the funding - even incorporating the increase - "will not even cover the value of the 2025 calf crop, much less the potential persistently infected (PIs) in 2026".

“The updated values are not in line with the value for 2025 born calves and then we have to remember that we have seen calves double in price this year," Noel Murphy said.

"Much and all as it is appreciated, the updated figure is only a deposit on where it should be and will have to be revisited."

The ICMSA said the funding allocation for animal health in 2026 included BVD and that was specified as €3 million.

"If we are to become BVD-free in this country, then we need better use and allocation of funding made available," Murphy said.

Values

He said he believes that the valuation process for BVD PI calves needs to be index-linked "to the actual trade in marts".

He said there were "numerous real-time tools and methods of tracking and monitoring the value of calves", and those need to be utilised "if we are to reflect the actual up-to-date value of calves when paying for a PI".

“The value of PI calves is two years behind the real value in marts and when you take into account the stress and added workload a breakout of BVD can cause, the current valuation system is basically adding insult to injury," Murphy said.

'Cumbersome'

Murphy added that the payment procedure to receive compensation is "cumbersome and long-winded".

“The fact that the animal has tested positive should be enough without having to fill in a payment form for each eligible animal removed," the ICMSA dairy chair said.

"DAFM can see from the AIMS system that the animal is removed, and payment should be generated immediately from this.

"The requirement to wait until the following year to make payment is ridiculous; payments should be instantaneous or at the least synced with the basic payments from end of September onwards."

Murphy has urged the minister to provide a "fully funded BVD scheme going forward".