What is BVD Virus infection of cattle BVD

What is BVD? Virus infection of cattle BVD virus is spread by: • Infected cow to unborn calf • Nose-to-nose contact with infected cattle • Semen of infected bulls • Indirect contact with infected slurry, overalls, shared equipment etc.

BVD Virus causes 2 types of infection Transient Infection (Temporary) Persistent Infection (For life) Causes poor fertility, milk drop, immunosuppression A PI is born not created Virus cleared quickly (10 -14 days) Do not produce antibodies Antibody response for a long time Most die within 18– 24 months Shed virus for life

Birth of PI calf BVD in early pregnancy Cow and calf infected Only dam becomes immune ‘Trojan Horse’ – care if buying in-calf animals as we cannot test the foetus Calf born persistently infected (PI)

Could you spot a BVD PI? © Keith Cutler Testing is the only way to know if BVD infection is in the herd

The Impacts: Fertility Month 1 – 4 Embryo death Persistently infected Month 4 – 9 Abortion, deformities, normal calves

The Impacts: Calf Health

Cost of BVD Infection Dairy £ 42. 63 per cow/year Beef £ 53. 55 per cow/year 1. Lost revenue = Reproductive losses, less animals/milk to sell and higher replacement rate 2. Managing disease = Labour, medicine, culling stock RVC, 2015

What is BVDFree? Voluntary industry-led initiative coordinating eradication of BVD from England. Working with SAC consulting to get over 50% breeding herd engaged in BVD control by 2020. Aims Increase number of herds testing & reporting results to BVDFree Tools to maintain BVD status & to easily check BVD status Reduce the number of PIs in the national herd

1. Set up BVD programme on farm Assess Define Action Monitor

2. Promote your herd’s high health status with BVDFree Require 2 consecutive annual tests negative for BVD

Why join BVDFree? BVDFree makes keeping disease out simple. > Herds testing > Easier to keep it out of your herd. With increasing engagement, build case for > resources & backing from gov.

BVD Stamp It Out £ 5. 7 M - Delivered by SAC Consulting Cluster meeting 1 Vet visit 1: Sampling Vet visit 2: Action/PI hunt Cluster meeting 2: Group findings £ 61. 80 for check test £ 530 vet time £ 400 for PI hunt *Aim to engage 50% breeding cattle in England Registration form optin to BVDFree Submission form opt-in to upload results

How can funding help you? 1. Cluster Meeting: Learn about BVD 2. On farm vet visit: Look at disease risk to herd and test. 3. On farm follow-up vet visit: a. No exposure to BVD > Focus on biosecurity b. Exposure to BVD > £ 440 for PI hunt 4. Follow-up cluster meeting: Share ideas & control strategies

How to get involved with BVDFree? ü Tick the box on your Stamp it out registration form to join BVDFree ü Stamp it out lab results can be uploaded to BVDFree database *BVD Stamp It Out funding covers upload to BVDFree database

What do you need to do? • • • You will be issued a letter of commitment from SAC outlining the programme SAC will contact you 6 months after plan is complete – Expected to complete short survey Defra want to see impact the funding has had on BVD control in England

bvdfree. org. uk @BVDFree