Livestock

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea: Welfare and Eradication

How BVD affects cattle welfare and why national eradication is achievable.

Key Facts

BVD virus causes immunosuppression, reproductive failure, and mucosal disease
Persistently infected (PI) animals shed virus continuously and are the main reservoir
Scotland has made substantial progress in a voluntary eradication programme
Identifying and removing PI animals is the foundation of control

Welfare Considerations

BVD causes significant welfare harm — PI animals experience chronic immunosuppression and may develop fatal mucosal disease. Infected herds suffer increased respiratory disease, reproductive failure, and calf mortality. Welfare-focused eradication combines testing to identify PI animals, prompt removal, and biosecurity to prevent reintroduction. National eradication is achieved through high testing participation.

What You Can Do

Test incoming cattle before purchase and introduction to your herd
Participate in regional BVD eradication schemes and share data
Advocate for mandatory BVD testing and PI removal to support national eradication