Since 2010, the Scottish Government’s bid to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in Scottish breeding herds has seen exposure reduced from 40% to 9%. Almost 15 years later, the Welsh Government is embarking on a similar route.

On July 1, the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Wales) Order 2024 will be introduced to facilitate an industry-led approach to eradicating the disease.

Cattle sector representatives and the Welsh Government have been closely working together to develop legislation to facilitate the next steps towards the eradication of BVD in Wales.

Eradicating BVD from Wales will improve standards of animal health and welfare and help Wales achieve its net-zero targets sooner. Eradicating BVD from a typical Welsh herd of 40 cattle could reduce the carbon footprint by around 70,200kg CO2e annually.

In addition, eradication should bring significant farm-level financial benefits stemming from improved cattle health, welfare, and productivity.

From July 1, the industry-led BVD legislation introduced by the Welsh Government will require keepers to:

  • Screen their herds for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) annually by testing a small number of cattle.
  • Isolate Persistently Infected (PI) animals from the rest of the herd for the remainder of their lives.
  • Cattle keepers will have until July 1, 2025, to complete their annual herd test.

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “I understand and appreciate the serious impact of BVD, not just on standards of animal health and welfare, but also the impact on production and the serious economic costs of this disease to farm businesses.”

Chief veterinary officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine, said: “The benefits of being BVD-free include increased cattle health, welfare, productivity and fertility. Eliminating BVD can reduce costs and the carbon footprint of your herd. Maintaining a BVD-free status strengthens the health and welfare of our cattle farms in Wales, and can also help reduce antibiotic usage.”