Navigating the journey to becoming free of BVD

NBA’s January webinar, chaired by Neil Shand featured a presentation from Kath Aplin, ruminant vet adviser with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health who examined how to protect herds against BVD as the various nations’ BVD schemes make progress towards eradicating the disease.

Setting the scene, Ms Aplin explained that the differences between schemes in Scotland, Wales and England adds some complexity, especially for those producers looking to trade across borders. However, the progress of schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland provide inspiration for Wales and England, where the current voluntary schemes may become mandatory in the future.

“In Scotland, where participation in the BVD eradication scheme is compulsory, the disease now has very low prevalence levels with all breeding herds tested and 96% of herds negative for the virus1,” she explained. “The compulsory scheme in Scotland and the voluntary scheme in Wales, involving blood tests taken during TB testing, have proven the value of veterinary involvement in BVD control on-farm. Sign up rates amongst producers in Wales are good, with more than 1000 registering in 2020. However, there is still some work to be done to encourage those who have not yet signed up to do so. Recent data shows that around 28% of herds tested were positive for BVD2. Any herds with a positive result should carry out further testing to track down any PIs; these animals should be removed from the herd as rapidly as possible,” Ms Aplin said. Some commentators would say that producers in England lag behind in terms of BVD control; in the absence of a compulsory scheme, many farmers do not know their herd’s BVD status or have a comprehensive plan in place to control BVD. “However, the good news is that this is all set to change,” Ms Aplin remarked. “The new Animal Health and Welfare Pathway3 will help herds work towards BVD eradication. A funded vet visit will provide an opportunity to develop a BVD control plan specifically for their own farm.” The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway team has spent nearly two years developing the strategy. The Annual Health and Welfare Review will be launched this spring; it will consist of a funded vet visit to the value of £522 for all BPS-eligible beef units with more than 10 cows. BVD control plans have been highlighted as one of the key priorities for the Annual Health and Welfare review.

It’s also worth noting that BVD featured in the Red Tractor standards update at the end of 2021. The standards now include a recommendation that beef farms have a BVD eradication plan in place. From October 2022 this will move from a recommendation to a full standard.”

A review of BVD control should include:

• Biosecurity assessment – consider how

BVD might get onto the farm. Bought in cattle or contact with neighbouring cattle are the biggest risks, but BVD can be a risk even for closed herds, for example through visitors or staff. • Testing to find out the herd status – could there be a PI in the herd?

• Vaccination review – few herds can rely on biosecurity alone, so the majority of herds will need a vaccination plan.

It’s important to review vaccination protocols regularly to ensure all breeding cattle are fully protected to prevent the birth of PIs. “Whatever part of the UK you’re in, vaccination as part of a BVD control plan on-farm should not be overlooked,” Ms Aplin stated. “Being completely biosecure is unrealistic for most beef farms; vaccination provides insurance against the effects of accidental exposure to BVD. This is important in the early stages of an eradication programme (such as in England or Wales), where the chances of coming into contact with the disease are high. However it’s also important in the later stages (for example in Scotland or Northern Ireland), where the likelihood of getting infected may be lower, but as natural immunity wanes, the consequences of infection in a naïve herd can be more serious” Bovela® from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is the UK’s leading BVD vaccine4 . This live vaccine has a one dose primary course and delivers 12 months’ protection. The easy-to-follow one shot per year protocol can take the headache out of vaccine planning.

• Healthier calves • Less antibiotic use • Improved fertility

• Check herd status • Find and euthanase PIs • Review biosecurity • Review vaccination plans

• Always buy BVD-free stock

For more information about the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, follow the DEFRA Future Farming blog:

1. Data from Scottish Government (2022) 2. Gwaredu BVD (2021) available at www. ahww.cymru/en/ (Accessed Feb 2022) 3. DEFRA (2022) defrafarming.blog.gov. uk/2022/02/22/our-priorities-for-theanimal-health-and-welfare-pathway/ 4. Kynetec 2021 Market Share Data 5. National BVD survey 2020

AFTER THE ONE-TWO PUNCH OF PI REMOVAL AND BIOSECURITY, YOU’LL WANT TO KEEP YOUR GUARD UP AGAINST BVD. A DISEASE WITH AN IMPACT OF OVER £40 PER COW PER YEAR1. SPEAK TO YOUR VET ABOUT HOW THE UK’S MARKET LEADING BVD VACCINE2 PROVIDES 12 MONTHS’ PROVEN PROTECTION AGAINST BOTH BVD TYPE 1 AND 2, WITH JUST ONE JAB3 .

 When used as part of a comprehensive approach to BVD including culling of PIs and biosecurity.

References: 1. Yarnall and Thrusfield (2017) Vet Record doi: 10.1136/vr.104370 2. Kynetec (2019) BVD sales data by value. Full year 2018 3. For active immunisation of cattle against BVDV-1 and BVDV-2, to prevent the birth of persistently infected calves caused by transplacental infection. Bovela lyophilisate and solvent for suspension for injection for cattle contains modified live BVDV-1, non-cytopathic parent strain KE-9: 104.0–106.0 TCID50, modified live BVDV-2, non-cytopathic parent strain NY-93: 104.0–106.0 TCID50. UK: POM-V. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim. com. Bovela is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under licence. ©2019 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jul 2019. AHD12633. Use Medicines Responsibly. MakE BVD history