Cattle Disease Welfare: BVD Eradication and Health Planning

Overview of BVD (bovine viral diarrhoea) welfare significance and national eradication progress.

Key Facts

BVD causes significant welfare harm including reproductive failure and immunosuppression
Persistently infected cattle are the primary reservoir and welfare concern
Scotland has achieved BVD-free status through national eradication programme
England and Wales national eradication programme is progressing
BVD testing and removal of persistently infected cattle is core welfare intervention

Welfare Considerations

BVD eradication is a welfare programme with significant benefits for cattle populations. BVD causes reproductive failure, neonatal mortality, immunosuppression, and direct disease welfare harm. Persistently infected cattle shed virus continuously, compromising the welfare of herd-mates. National eradication programmes achieve welfare benefits at population scale that individual farm efforts cannot. Scotland's achievement of BVD-free status demonstrates what is achievable through coordinated national action.

What You Can Do

Support BVD testing and eradication programmes on farms
Advocate for national BVD eradication programme expansion and completion
Choose beef and dairy from farms demonstrating BVD-free status