Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) causes significant welfare harm through direct disease and immunosuppression, with BVD eradication programs delivering major welfare benefits to national cattle herds.
BVD causes multiple welfare harms. PI calves born with persistent infection experience compromised immunity throughout their short lives, suffering more frequently and more severely from every infectious challenge. Mucosal disease in PI cattle causes agonizing oral and intestinal ulceration before inevitable death - a prolonged welfare catastrophe. Acute BVD in naive herds causes widespread diarrhea and reproductive failure. The success of national eradication programs in reducing these harms demonstrates what is achievable - national eradication provides permanent welfare improvement for millions of cattle without ongoing management costs.