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Growing number of cattle farms free of BVD
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea is one of the biggest issues faced by the cattle farming industry.

New figures show the continued success of voluntary database. 

The fight to eliminate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) from all cattle in England is making progress, with a significant increase last year in the number of farms free of the disease.

The latest figures released by BVD Free England show that more than 350 additional farmers achieved BVD Free test status in 2022, taking the overall number to 1239. The voluntary scheme, launched in 2016, collects test data to provide a national database for the BVD status of individual animals and herds.

As the number of herds free of the disease grows, more farmers are joining the scheme. A total of 6659 holdings were registered with BVD Free England at the end of December 2022, an increase of 175 on the 6484 who were registered in July 2021. This means that 43.57 per cent of breeding cattle in England are now covered by the scheme.

Nicky Bowden, farm vet and a board member of both the BCVA and BVD Free England, said: “Combining the number of farmers using the BVD free database with those who are members of various CHECS schemes we can feel confident that we have quite a significant proportion of farmers managing the breeding cattle in England actively engaged, working towards BVD eradication.”

Tackling BVD is part of the Government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, launched in 2022 to improve farm animal health and welfare. It is estimated that the disease costs the industry up to £36 million per year as well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions.  

Bill Mellor, chair of BVD Free England, said: “The English Animal Health and Welfare Pathway has recognised the importance of BVD control on farms by making it a priority disease for English cattle keepers and vets to engage with so it is important that we maintain momentum with the voluntary BVDFree scheme to demonstrate to the government that the industry is committed to BVD eradication.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.