Wales’ new BVD eradication scheme officially came into act today (1st July) and its already causing some headaches at cattle markets! Many livestock auctions will now be displaying the BVD status of animals in the sale ring – or the status of their origin herds. This is to help reassure Welsh buyers that they can move cattle onto their holdings without going under restrictions.

Many of you have been asking how to get your herd or animal status to “Negative”.

Animal status is straightforward. Animals must have tested negative for BVD virus, either on blood or tissue tag, and these results will need to be given to the Welsh buyers so they can maintain their negative herd status. Tag and test is going to be the simplest way to achieve this.

Herd status is more complicated.

In Wales, a check test should be done annually by your vet. A check test typically means testing 5 animals aged between 9 and 12 months to ensure there is no exposure to circulating BVD virus in the herd. Occasionally it can mean testing more animals, for example if there are separate management groups of younger animals. Moving calves between Welsh Negative herds won’t lead to movement restrictions.

However, England does not currently have a recognised eradication scheme. English farmers wanting to become accredited should join a CHeCS programme, either becoming accredited through Tag and Test (tissue sampling the whole herd) or a Check Test (antibody blood sampling).

Movements from English to Welsh holdings will automatically trigger movement restrictions, regardless of herd status. These can only be corrected by a post-movement blood test of the calves, or by providing a negative tissue tag result.

For more detailed information, please visit the Welsh Government website below or speak to your vet:

https://www.gov.wales/guidance-farmers-complying-bovine-viral-diarrhoea-legislation-wales#200524