Driving BVDV out of the herd
BVDV is one of the most costly bovine diseases for both dairy and beef producers, with losses of $15–$88 per head from reduced herd productivity, health, and reproductive efficiency.1-3
Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your operation
Stopping BVDV requires detecting and removing the infection source: persistently infected (PI) animals.
IDEXX recommends a simple three-step plan to manage BVDV:
1
Screen to determine your herd status.
2
Remove PI animals and work with your veterinarian to design a biosecurity program that includes annual BVDV testing.
3
Test all new introductions to the herd, including newborn calves.
“One animal has this huge impact on your operation.”
Dr. George Perry
Texas A&M University
Straight talk from the field.
We made a decision to BVDV-PI test all of our cattle. We tested not only the cattle we own, but also the cattle we manage.
Ralph Pelaez
Okeechobee, Florida
Bay City, Texas
Before I found this test, I was blaming health problems on poor nutrition or parasites.
Greg Wright
Victoria, Texas
We used to turn cattle out on pasture at 60 days. Now we are turning them out at 30 days. We don’t have any cattle still getting sick at 60 to 90 days after arrival.
Scott & Todd Harvey
Hydro, Oklahoma
Why BVDV is a problem
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes low reproduction performances and suppresses the immune system. BVDV is one of the most costly bovine diseases for both dairy and beef producers, with losses of $15–$88 per head from reduced herd productivity, health, and reproductive efficiency.1–3
Stopping BVDV requires detecting infected herds and removing the infection source: persistently infected (PI) animals.
How to determine if BVDV is present.
Is BVDV in your herd?
Dairy: PCR on bulk tank (pool ≤ 500)
Beef: PCR on blood samples (pool ≤ 50)
Screen with: RealPCR BVDV RNA Mix
If negative
Continue annual testing to monitor status change.
- Align on biosecurity measures with your veterinarian.
- Test all new introductions to the herd, including newborn calves.
Test with: SNAP BVDV Ag Test or IDEXX BVDV PI X2 Test
If positive
Eradicate BVDV from your herd by implementing a 3-year plan.
- Test all newborn animals with ear notch sample.
- Test all dams of positive calves.
- Test any new introductions to the herd.
- Remove all PIs from the herd.
Test with: SNAP BVDV Ag Test or IDEXX BVDV PI X2 Test
Note:
A positive animal, identified by antigen or PCR test, can be retested 3 weeks after. A PI animal will still be positive and must be culled, whereas a second negative test result indicates a transiently infected animal that can be kept.
IDEXX offers multiple options to determine if BVDV is present.
SNAP BVDV Antigen Test
On-farm (or lab) test detects Erns antigen in serum or ear notch samples.
RealPCR BVDV RNA Mix
PCR mix signals the presence of BVDV through genetic material in ear notch, blood (EDTA), serum, plasma, milk, or tissue samples.
IDEXX BVDV Total Ab X3 Test
BVDV antibody test detects antibodies produced by animal against the virus. This ELISA lab test utilizes milk and serum samples.
1. Bartlett B, Grooms D. BVD-PI eradication: unintended consequences. Michigan Dairy Review. 2008;13(3).
2. Chi J, VanLeeuwen JA, Weersink A, Keefe GP. Direct production losses and treatment costs from bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine leukosis virus,
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, and Neospora caninum. Prev Vet Med. 2002;55(2):137–153. doi:10.1016/s0167-5877(02)00094-6
3. Ridpath J. Why BVD is a tough problem. Hoard’s Dairyman. 2002;147:697.