Basic HTML Version
BVD CONTROL
3
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
BVD
Control
Although a growing number of farmers are adopting the practice of vaccinating against BVD to protect their
herd's heath and fertility, for the very best chance of reducing disease risk, it's advisable to seek out and
remove any PI (Persistently Infected) animals as well.
Several XLVets practices have been helping their clients to fully eradicate BVD from their herds, in some cases
obtaining funding to do so. The Shepton Vet Group ran its first BVD eradication programme back in 2006.
More recently the Alnorthumbria Vet Group in Northumberland and Bishopton Vet Group in Yorkshire have
run BVD control schemes managed by RAFT Solutions Ltd for beef and dairy farmers.
PART 2
OF A TWO PART SERIES
Eradicate the
BVD virus
and vaccinate - for
best protection of herd health and fertility
Veterinary Surgeon
Michael Head
XLVets Practice
Shepton Veterinary
Group
A total of 19 beef and dairy farms were
enrolled by Shepton Vet Group in 2006 and
funding was obtained to blood test animals to
identify whether any Persistently Infected (PI)
cattle were present as part of a PhD study.
Dairy farmer Nigel Doman of Ston Easton was
amongst those who signed onto the scheme.
He runs two dairy herds, milking a total of
350 cows. Nigel had been vaccinating his
cows and heifers for several years already but
saw the benefits of checking whether any virus
was actively circulating amongst the cattle.
Acute infection with the BVD virus can cause
immunosuppression in cattle which then
increases the risk of other diseases such as
mastitis in adult cattle or pneumonia and
scours in youngstock.
Nigel explains: ‘We keep all our calves and
those not reared for replacements are either
sold as stores or finished. So calf health is very
important to us. We thought it would be good
practice to identify whether the BVD virus was
on the farm.’
All Nigel's cattle were blood tested to identify
levels of BVD antibodies. The results showed
that although there were no PI animals, some
animals were showing evidence of exposure
to the virus.
Shepton Vet Practice's Michael Head explains:
‘This area of Somerset has a high density of
cattle so the risk of contact with BVD is high.
And although seventeen of the farms on the
scheme were already vaccinating, six of these
were found to have PI animals in the herd.’
Nigel Doman
Dairy Farmer, Ston Easton
Michael Head
Shepton Veterinary Group
Best practice disease control