Animal Health & Welfare NI

Animal Health & Welfare NI AHWNI aim is to achieve and maintain the highest standards of animal health and welfare in NI

AHWNI seeks to benefit livestock producers and processors by providing the knowledge, education and coordination required to establish effective control programmes for non-notifiable diseases of livestock. The compulsory phase of a Northern Ireland BVD eradication programme began on 1st March 2016. The programme is based on testing ear punch samples collected using tissue sample-enabled official identity or management tags for BVD virus.

09/01/2025

The key focus of the BVD Programme by Animal Health and Welfare NI in 2025 will be to encourage herd owners to take action

06/01/2025

PhD Opportunity!

Are you interested in pursuing a PhD, researching the economic and social impacts of ruminant disease in Northern Ireland?

We have an opportunity for the right candidate to work with the University of Edinburgh.

If you are interested and, for further information, please contact us at [email protected] with a covering letter and CV.

06/01/2025

UFU comment on new BVD measures 👇

The Ulster Farmers’ Union says the new BVD measures introduced by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, is a crucial development that will support the Northern Ireland livestock industry to eradicate the disease.

The following measures are being introduced:

📌 From 1 February 2025, herd level movement restrictions will be applied to herds containing animals that have a positive or inconclusive BVD test result on a phased approach with ‘grace periods’ being available for the first 12 months. Herd keepers can avoid restrictions if they take prompt action to remove or retest the positive or inconclusive animals within these ‘grace periods’.

📌 From 1 June 2025, movement restrictions will also be applied to herds with animals of unknown BVD status. This will be introduced in 3 stages, with the threshold number of unknown status animals reducing over a 16-month period. Keepers who are compliant with the testing requirements of existing legislation will not be impacted.

📌 Cattle born before 1 March 2016, will also now need to be tested for BVD if they do not have a negative or indirect negative BVD status.

📌 From 1 February 2026, additional movement restrictions will be placed on all breeding age females within herds containing animals that test positive for BVD.

Commenting, UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said, “We welcome the new BVD measures that will be rolled out from 1 February this year. These changes are crucial in supporting the NI livestock industry to eradicate the disease once and for all. To date, we have already made huge gains but these measures will enable us to continue this positive work to achieve our end goal, benefiting family farms, improving animal health and welfare and our local environment.

“Swift identification and removal of persistently infected (PI) cattle is key to eradicating BVD and it is positive to see this being reflected within the legislation. The new measures announced by the DAERA Minister will help us to quickly remove infected animals, reducing the risk of further transmission.

“We encourage all livestock farmers to make themselves aware of the new BVD measures. It’s important that we all support the implementation of these changes to eradicate BVD locally and as quickly as possible.”

03/01/2025

A study of sheep scab in Northern Ireland including detection and identifying

BVD Herd Restrictions to apply from 1 February 2025
20/12/2024

BVD Herd Restrictions to apply from 1 February 2025

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, MLA, has announced the launch of new measures to support efforts to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle.

18/12/2024
12/12/2024

Address

Unit 49 Dungannon Enterprise Centre
Dungannon
BT716JT

Opening Hours

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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028 79639333

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