The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated today that the use of new ear tags is an innovative tool that will change animal identification in the Azores, through the collection of DNA, and contribute to the success of the Programme for Control and Eradication of BVD; the latter was implemented by the Regional Government in partnership with agricultural associations.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros accompanied the first session for the application of ear tags in calves in a dairy farm located in the municipality of Lagoa. The government official said the Government purchased 35 thousands DNA ear tags and is expected to acquire another 20 thousand tags in order to cover the entire beef cattle population of the archipelago.
 
"During the application, these ear tags allow the collection of a tissue sample from the ear," which is stored within a tube coupled to the tag that is automatically sealed," said Neto Viveiros. According to him, this method enables the conduction of "a series of tests" without the need to draw blood and the "creation of a database for the entire regional cattle population."
 
The Secretary for Agriculture also highlighted the investment of about half a million Euros in the implementation of the Programme for Control and Eradication of BVD. Although the disease does not pose any risk to public health or consumers, it causes high losses in farms due to production breaks and animal mortality.
 
Questioned by journalists, Neto Viveiros highlighted "the enviable health status" of the Region, both at national and European level in regard to notifiable diseases, namely brucellosis; there are no longer cases of infected animals on any island.
 
The Azores have been declared officially free of bovine brucellosis on six islands: Santa Maria, Graciosa, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo. The Region will now submit to the European Commission the applications of Terceira and São Jorge.
 
The application of São Miguel Island, where the immunisation and surveillance plan will be maintained, will be submitted after the end of the required period time for the non-occurrence of cases, which have been non-existent since 2015.
 
The Regional Secretary said it is also possible to "take this step" to support the farmers in combating the so-called production diseases, highlighting the "partnership" with agricultural associations and the commitment of producers.
 
This year, the Azorean Government has increased financial allocations by 22% to improve animal health. It has also maintained relevant services as well as multiples analyses provided to farmers at no cost.
 
This measure aims to contribute to the export capacity of the Region as well as to the increase in the income of meat and milk producers and heifer breeders, thus safeguarding food quality, consumer safety and the confidence in local cattle and products.
 
At a time when health barriers are an increasingly serious obstacle to the movement of animals and marketing of products, the evolution of health quality and the measures implemented are also essential to meet the new challenges that Azorean agriculture and animal husbandry face, namely the milk sector.