BVD statuses and movement restrictions on APHIS

Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs today announced further measures to reduce the spread of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

From 12 February 2018, AHWNI BVD statuses from both the voluntary and compulsory phases of the BVD Eradication Scheme will be visible on the DAERA computer base, APHIS. This change will enable herd owners to view their BVD statuses on APHIS online and APHIS herd lists, and will help them prevent any mistaken movement of animals which do not have a negative BVD status. 

To prevent any mistaken movements of BVD-ineligible animals, APHIS movement restrictions are also being introduced. For animals born on or after 1 March 2016, only negative (BVDN) animals can be permitted through a market, permitted directly to another herd or exported (including via an Export Assembly Centre). In the case of animals born before 1 March 2016, any which are positive (BVDP), inconclusive (BVDI), dam of a persistently infected (PI) calf (DAMPI) or offspring of a PI (OFFPI) cannot be permitted to a market, permitted directly to another herd or exported (including via an Export Assembly Centre).

Any animal taken to a market when movement is not allowed will be apparent to the market operator and will not be sold. Any such animals must be returned to the herd from which it moved. Farmers are reminded to check the BVD status of previously purchased animals through their access to the AHWNI Database or from February onwards on APHIS.

Sam Strain, CEO of AHWNI, said: “BVD costs the cattle industry in Northern Ireland millions of pounds each year. The addition of BVD statuses to APHIS and the application of movement controls to non-negative animals will greatly assist in protecting herds from this important disease. Herd owners should discuss testing of positive or inconclusive calves, their dams and other offspring where relevant with their private vet. An animal with an ‘Unknown’ status may mean that it has not been tested or an unsuitable sample has been taken: in these cases a button tag may be applied and an ear tissue tag sample submitted for testing.” 

He added: “Such testing will accelerate the disclosure of positive animals, allowing herd owners to cull them at an earlier stage. Veterinary advice is that PI animals should be humanely destroyed as soon as possible after receipt of an initial or re-test positive result.

“These new measures will complement the current Eradication Scheme, intensify the drive to remove PIs, and so accelerate progress towards the eradication of BVD." 

Outlining his commitment to BVD eradication, Chief Veterinary Officer Robert Huey said: “DAERA has responded to AHWNI and Industry requests to bring individual BVD statuses from the AHWNI Database into the same system as cattle movements, the APHIS system. This is a very significant step as it will reduce the risk of non-negative BVD animals being mistakenly moved.”

He continued: “The changes announced today will help support the Industry’s efforts to eradicate BVD, but the retention of persistently infected animals is still a problem and I again urge herd keepers to follow AHWNI’s advice and remove these animals as soon as possible. The Department will continue to work closely with AHWNI to reduce and ultimately to eradicate this production disease.” 

More information about BVD can be found on the AHWNI website.

Notes to editors: 

1. Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is a highly contagious viral infection which currently affects over 10% of cattle herds in Northern Ireland. The disease is spread by persistently infected (PI) and transiently infected (TI) animals. PI animals are the most important as they are infectious for their entire lifetime, continuously shedding very high levels of the virus. Initially they often appear normal but usually they become ill at an early age with most dying before they reach breeding age or slaughter weight.

2. The BVD Eradication Scheme Order (NI) 2016 requires:

 •  all cattle (including stillbirths and abortions) born after 1 March 2016 to be tagged with a tissue-sample enabled tag.

 •  all samples must be submitted to an approved testing laboratory.

 •  animals are not permitted to move from their natal (home) herd (except to slaughter) until a negative test result has been received.

 •  positive and inconclusive animals to be isolated in housing in their natal herd to prevent the spread of infection to other cattle.

 •  both buyers and sellers have a responsibility to ensure that animals are permitted to move before the move takes place.

3. BVD statuses which will be held on APHIS and the movement permissions which apply are as follows:

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5. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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