Netherlands: Parliament calls for disease-free livestock farming in the last Adema debate

A motion to this effect received sufficient support in the House of Representatives. Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) cause animal suffering and economic damage. Eline Vedder (CDA) and Harm Holman (NSC), authors of the motion, therefore want to quickly eradicate these diseases. If the Netherlands has BVD-free status, it will not import calves from countries that are not BVD-free. This means that calves from Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Eastern Europe will no longer be supplied to the Netherlands. This reduction in livestock transports is also a wish of the House of Representatives. With the decision, the House of Representatives is also following the line taken by the veal farming industry. The sector itself recently presented a plan not to import BVD calves. "I think it is very positive what the veal farming industry is doing," says Holman about the sector's action. Mandatory vaccination The House of Representatives has also asked the ...