A major cross-border public meeting will take place on bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) this month.
All interested stakeholders are invited to the meeting in Co. Armagh for an update on the current situation from vets working on the disease, and to have the opportunity to ask questions and join in the discussion on how to address the current issues.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in the Tommy Makem Centre, The Cow Fair, Keady, Co. Armagh at 8:00p.m.
The meeting is being hosted by Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) and Animal Health Ireland (AHI), co-ordinators of the respective BVD programmes.
They have said this meeting is the “first ever” major BVD cross-border public meeting.
‘Major threat to farms’
Data shows higher incidence in 2025 in counties Armagh and Fermanagh.
This has sparked the initiative by AHWNI and AHI to “engage with affected communities on both sides of the border and explore how BVD is being tackled in both jurisdictions”.
According to AHWNI and AHI, there have been “huge strides” made in controlling and eradicating the disease, which remains a “major threat to farms”.
As there is a strong desire to achieve all-island freedom from BVD, a ramping up of a collective effort is required to ensure that the disease is brought under control as quickly as possible, they said.
There are particular risks along the border of Co. Monaghan with NI, so it is important that farmers take steps to protect their herds in these areas in particular, the organisations said.
In Northern Ireland, the animal level incidence has remained static for over two years.
However, it is anticipated that the immediate application of herd restrictions, which commenced on February 1, 2026, on herds where BVD is detected will reduce the transmission of the virus within affected farms and to neighbouring farms.
‘Drive down’ BVD incidence
AHWNI chief executive Dr. Sam Strain commented: “Farmers and industry partners have made substantial efforts to drive down the incidence of the BVD virus by complying with NI legislation and taking steps to protect their herds.
“However, the persistence of the disease in hotspot areas is giving concern and we are very aware that this disease does not respect borders.
“An important part of our strategy is to work in collaboration with colleagues in AHI to drive down the incidence of BVD.”
BVD programme manager at AHWNI, Sharon Verner said that AHWNI “continues to engage with all herd owners whose herds are in breakdown situations, to advise on how the virus can be eradicated at the farm level”.
“As we work with industry and government to make new tools available to deal with BVD, we encourage all farmers to act now to protect their herds, through identifying and acting on risks when purchasing and at boundaries,” Verner added.
“We welcome this opportunity to speak in person to farmers in the worst affected areas, as we are determined to work together to stamp out the BVD virus.”