Managing BVDV at the herd level part 1

Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a costly disease and its eradication is the focus of the English voluntary scheme, BVDFree. The process of identifying a farm as negative or not negative is broken down into four stages using ADAM: assess disease risk; define herd status; action plan for BVD control; monitor progress. This process is based on the long-established protocols defined by Cattle Health Certification Standards. The first two stages are discussed in this article with the others following in part 2 of this series. The risk assessment for current infection should focus on incoming animals to the herd, boundary fences and existing vaccination programmes. Suitable testing can then follow with a choice of newborn screening or youngstock cohort surveillance, with optional bulk milk analysis in dairy herds. Farms that show initial evidence of endemic BVDV infection can undertake further testing to discover the source.