Farmers and herd owners in Northern Ireland (NI) are being advised to check the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) status of cattle born before March 1, 2016 (the start of the BVD compulsory programme), to ensure individual restrictions are not applied to these cattle on March 1, 2025.
According to Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI), a BVDU (BVD Unknown) status and individual restrictions will be applied to cattle born before March 1, 2016 that do not have a BVDN (BVD Negative) or INDINEG (Indirect Negative, due to the birth of a BVD Negative calf) status on that date.
These restrictions are avoidable if the relevant animals are tested, either by using a supplementary tag or a blood sample taken by a private vet, AHWNI said.
If they are not dealt with, the presence of these older BVDU cattle will contribute to the BVDU count on which the application of BVDU herd restrictions will be based, from June 2025.
During the first year after the new BVD legislation is introduced, there will be grace periods before herd restrictions are applied:
| Date | Herd restriction grace period details |
|---|---|
| February 1, 2025 | If a BVD Positive (BVDP) or Inconclusive (BVDI) animal is still in the herd 28 days after a BVDP or BVDI test result is disclosed, the herd and any associated herds will be restricted. |
| May 1, 2025 | If a BVDP or BVDI animal is still in the herd seven days after their test result is disclosed, the herd and any associated herds will be restricted. |
| February 1, 2025 | Immediate restriction of the herd and any associated herds will occur when a BVDP or BVDI test result is disclosed. |
If BVD movement restrictions are applied to a farmers’ herd due to retention or presence of a BVD Positive or BVD Inconclusive, the restrictions can be lifted when two conditions are met.
Conditions to lift BVD restrictions
Firstly, 21 days must have passed since the last BVD Positive or BVD Inconclusive animal has been removed from the herd and associated herds (i.e., the BVD Positive or BVD Inconclusive animal has either been culled or re-tested with a BVD Negative result).
Secondly, all animals in the herd and associated herds have a negative BVD status directly or indirectly i.e., BVD Negative (BVDN) or Indirect Negative (INDINEG) status except for calves up to 30 days old which may still be untested BVD Unknown (BVDU).
AHWNI has said it is important to ensure that the death of a BVD Positive or Inconclusive animal is notified to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) promptly and to check that all animals in the herd and any associated herds have a negative BVD status.
Any farmers’ cattle that have a BVDU status (including cattle born before March 1, 2016) should be tested, either through the use of a supplementary tag or following blood sampling by the private vet.
During the first year after the new BVD legislation is introduced, movement restriction prohibiting all moves in or out of a herd and any associated herds will be applied as follows:
| Date | No. of BVDUs in herd that will lead to herd restriction |
|---|---|
| June 1, 2025 | 20 or more |
| December 1, 2025 | 10 or more |
| June 1, 2026 | 5 or more |
Restrictions on farmers’ herds with BVDUs will be lifted immediately on confirmation of a negative BVD result for all cattle more than 30-days-old.
Testing should be carried out using supplementary tags or blood samples taken by a private vet.
In summary, during the first year after introduction of BVD herd restrictions, the restrictions can be avoided if BVDP or BVDI animals are acted on very promptly and if all animals over 30 days-of-age in the herd have a BVD Negative status.
