The Surveillance and Early Detection of Disease in Ireland’s National Herd

Vet Michael Horan joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge podcast, to discuss the role the Department of Agriculture plays in ensuring a high level of surveillance and early detection of disease in the animal population in Ireland. As we export the majority of the milk and meat products we produce, Michael emphasises the importance of a healthy national herd status from a marketing perspective. Micheal recited some of the many diseases listed on the national health cert that milk must be free from in order to export milk to China. Michael also gives some examples of occasions when detection didn’t work as well as it might have which led to a widespread animal health crisis for both the individual farmers and the national agriculture sector. Finally, Michael gives his top tips to maintain a high health status on your farm including: maintaining a closed herd, good fencing around boundaries, avoid sharing of farm equipment and consult with your local vet to make a herd health plan for your farm. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/