Consultation launched on plans for compulsory testing of cattle to eradicate BVD in Wales

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on plans to introduce a compulsory scheme to eradicate a cattle disease which costs millions of pounds a year.

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea is an endemic, viral disease of cattle which affects immunity and reduces productivity and farm efficiency.

The virus only affects cattle and has no impact on the food chain or human health.

Infection in cattle can result in failure to conceive, abortions, malformed foetuses, stillbirths and the birth of persistently infected (PI) carrier calves.

The disease is spread by PI calves which are usually infected in the womb. These animals usually die in the first 24 months of life.

Benefits of eradicating the disease include improved health and welfare of the animals, improved productivity of cattle farms, reduction in antibiotic use and carbon footprint by the cattle industry and better trade prospects.

The compulsory scheme will require cattle keepers to test their herds annually for BVD and take steps to isolate PI animals.

Restrictions

Herds which test positive will be subject to movement restrictions until they are clear.

The government says the overall aim of the scheme is to remove PI animals from Welsh herds which will result in the gradual eradication of the disease.

Similar schemes are being developed or are already in place in other parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Ireland.

A voluntary scheme is currently in place, managed by Gwaredu BVD, which is due to come to an end in early 2023.

More than 80 per cent of Wales’ cattle herds have taken part in the voluntary scheme and have been screened for BVD.

The voluntary scheme does not require the removal of PIs from herds, and they can currently also be sold on.

Isolated

BVD cannot be eradicated without the removal of PIs from Welsh herds, and the proposed compulsory scheme requires all identified PIs to be isolated from the main herd.

Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “I would urge cattle keepers and all those with an interest in the dairy and beef industries to take part in this consultation.

“We already have a very high take up in the voluntary BVD scheme in Wales, and the next step to completely eradicate this disease here is to consider making the scheme compulsory.

“As a result of the high take up of the voluntary scheme many cattle keepers will be familiar with the requirements of testing.

“Eradicating the disease will improve animal health and welfare and improve productivity on the farm.”

The consultation on BVD is available here