Page 16 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024

Helping to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea

Dr Neil Paton, Lecturer in Farm Animal Health and Production

radicating bovine viral diarrhoea In 2022, this reduced to 23%, “I understand and appreciate
(BVD) can ensure improved meaning 77% of farms are now the serious impact of BVD,
animal health and welfare, BVD-free.
Eand improve the productivity The importance of the work has not just on standards of animal
and profitability of farms, while also been recognised by the Welsh health and welfare, but also
reducing their carbon footprint.
government and its office of the the impact on production
BVD has been a focus of RVC Chief Veterinary Officer. and the serious economic
academics for some time, with Following the success of the programme,
Professor Joe Brownlie’s work on the Welsh government carried out a costs of this disease to
the pathology to academic involvement consultation with the farming industry. farm businesses.
in farm and national level control and The introduction of legislation was
eradication programmes. BVD induces supported by over 80% of respondents, The eradication of BVD in
immunosuppression and reproductive and 80% of those respondents Wales is a long-standing
failure in cattle and is maintained in supported a mandatory scheme, commitment, and I fully
herds due to the presence of based on the Gwaredu BVD model.
persistently infected (PI) animals. support industry and
As a result of the success of the Government working together
A major programme that the RVC Gwaredu BVD programme and the
was involved in was the voluntary positive response to the consultation, in close partnership to achieve
phase of the Welsh BVD eradication the Welsh Government has now this outcome.”
programme – Gwaredu BVD. This introduced new legislation which came
was managed through a partnership into effect from 1st July 2024, which Cabinet Secretary for Climate
between the RVC and Coleg Sir Gâr’s will make BVD screening mandatory. Change and Rural Affairs,
Agriculture Research Centre. The RVC’s This legislation is a key step in Wales’s Huw Irranca-Davies
Dr Neil Paton, Lecturer in Farm Animal progress toward BVD freedom for the
Production, has worked as the Technical national herd. However, there is much
Director of the Gwaredu BVD, providing work still to do and it is likely that the
veterinary guidance and advice on RVC will be involved in the future.
BVD eradication.

To begin progress towards eradicating
BVD in Wales, Gwaredu BVD offered
free BVD screening to farmers via their ERADICATING BVD IN WALES
vets to determine their BVD status.
All farms in Wales had access to this The benefits of being BVD-free include increased cattle
testing and herd health advice to raise health, welfare, productivity and fertility. Eliminating BVD
awareness of BVD biosecurity measures
that could be taken. Where further work can reduce costs and the carbon footprint of your herd.
was required to eliminate BVD on a farm, Maintaining a BVD-free status strengthens the health
the programme supported the farms in and welfare of our cattle farms in Wales and can also
conducting eradication efforts.
help reduce antibiotic usage.
From September 2017 to December
2022, the programme screened
85% (9,369) of cattle farms in Wales. Embarking on this next phase of the BVD eradication
The programme conducted more programme in Wales is a really important step. I would
than 29,000 screenings, and issued like to recognise the industry-led approach, backed up by
19,282 BVD status certificates to
these farms, helping increase this new BVD legislation. We can achieve eradication through
awareness of BVD and promoting the ongoing efforts of all cattle farmers, working closely with
informed purchasing decisions. their vets, to screen and protect their herds from BVD.
Overall, Gwaredu BVD identified
that 27% of farms screened BVD Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine
positive in 2018.

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