The Northern Irish sheep sector has been left wondering what the future holds following news that their maedi visna (MV)-free status may be rebuked.
This follows on from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) announcing that it was withdrawing funding for MV testing and it has now been floated that farmers introduce a self-funded industry scheme.
MV is a viral disease, found in most sheep producing countries, with clinical signs such as lung disease, wasting and mastitis normally appearing in sheep over the age of three.
It has a lengthy incubation period, is highly infectious and challenging to diagnose on clinical signs alone. With no vaccine or cure available, it is ultimately a death sentence to sheep who contract it.
This news has left farmers worried that their flocks would be more susceptible to the disease should the MV-free status be removed and given the rise in MV cases in the UK and Republic of Ireland, rising from 1.4% to 9.4% in the last 30 years, their wariness is justified.
At a meeting organised by the National Sheep Association (NSA) and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) last week NSA NI chair Alistair Armstrong said: “Keeping NI free from MV is vital for our animal health and trading status.
“However, DAERA is withdrawing its funding for MV testing and is asking the industry to implement a scheme that would be funded by farmers.
“Any type of testing, accreditation or control scheme will be an additional expense to farmers at a time when they are already facing low profit margins.
“The loss of MV control measures at borders is a major concern because if MV is transmitted into our flocks, they would become less efficient, profitable and sustainable having a knock-on effect on the NI sheep sector.”
This sentiment was echoed by former NSA NI development officer Edward Adamson who said: “The sheep industry wants to maintain the status quo for MV currently and cannot ‘allow the MV floodgates to open’.
“Infection rates are continuing to rise in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, and if NI stops restrictions on the health status of imports, this disease has the potential to become widespread.
“Sheep farmers are willing to act responsibly with biosecurity, quarantine and purchasing from high health flocks however all this is useless if DAERA remove controls.”
The NSA and UFU are now pushing for a solution that will satisfy industry stakeholders while protecting their flocks against MV and safeguard the sectors future.
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