Reduced threshold for BVD Herd Restrictions to take effect from 1 December
Date published:
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Andrew Muir MLA, is advising herd keepers that from 1 December 2025, the threshold for applying Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) herd restrictions will reduce to 10 untested animals (BVDUs) over 30 days old within a herd.
This change is part of the phased implementation of BVD control measures, which came into force on 1 February 2025, and aims to help eliminate this serious and highly contagious disease from Northern Ireland’s cattle population.
Minister Muir said: “I am very pleased that most farmers appreciate the impact this disease has on productivity and profitability and continue to act promptly to ensure their animals are tested for BVD on time. Through their concerted efforts, the number of untested animals in Northern Ireland has reduced by 42% since this time last year. However, despite this reduction, there are still almost 9,000 BVDU status animals over 30 days old within Northern Ireland cattle herds, some of which may be infected with the virus, therefore posing a risk to their herd and to other herds.”
Under the new threshold, herds with 10 or more BVDU status animals over 30 days old will be subject to herd level movement restrictions. These restrictions prohibit all moves into the herd and all moves out, except to direct slaughter or for disposal. Herds which have been associated by DAERA due to common disease risks will also be restricted.
Minister Muir added: “Without further sustained efforts by herd keepers, about 180 additional herds, along with any associated herds, could be subject to restriction in December because they now meet the new lower threshold for herd restrictions. This is very concerning given that no herd needs to be restricted because of untested animals, if herd keepers comply with existing legal requirements and ensure all their animals are promptly tested for BVD.”
Minister Muir concluded: “I therefore urge all farmers to act now to avoid unnecessary disruption by tissue testing their newborn calves promptly and by testing any older BVDU status cattle in their herd, either by using a supplementary ear tag or through blood sampling carried out by their own vet. Only through the support of all livestock keepers will we be able to move closer to eradicating BVD from Northern Ireland.”
The BVD control measures had been developed through engagement with Animal Health & Welfare NI (AHWNI), the delivery partner for the NI BVD eradication scheme and convenor of the BVD Implementation Group.
Dr Sam Strain, Chief Executive of AHWNI, said: “Farmers in NI have achieved substantial progress in controlling BVD. However, to achieve the industry goal of BVD eradication, infection, wherever it might be, needs to be identified. It is very likely that some untested animals are infected and posing an infectious risk to other cattle. These new measures will further help to identify where infection is and allow farmers to act quickly to protect their herd and those of their neighbours.”
Further details of the measures, how and when they will be applied and how to avoid them.
Notes to editors:
- BVD is a serious and highly contagious disease of cattle, which affects their productivity and compromises their welfare. It is mainly spread by persistently infected (PI) cattle, which are born with the disease, having come into contact with the virus in the womb. The virus can spread by other routes, including transiently infected cattle, which produce less virus for 2 to 3 weeks, after which they recover.
- Animal Health & Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) is the delivery partner for the NI BVD eradication scheme. For more information on the operation of the Scheme, please contact AHWNI (email info@animalhealthni.com or tel. 028 7963 9333) or visit the AHWNI website: www.animalhealthni.com.
- Under the BVD Eradication Scheme Order (NI) 2016, herd keepers are required to sample all calves within 20 days of birth as well as any bovines that enters a herd without a negative BVD status. Animals that test positive must be isolated to prevent direct or indirect contact with other susceptible animals.
- Under the BVD Control Order (NI) 2024, movement restrictions are applied to herds with animals of unknown status (BVDUs) that have not had a BVD test. These restrictions are being rolled out on a phased basis over a 12-month period as follows:
- Since 1 June 2025 herd restrictions have been applied to any herd with 20 or more BVDU animals over 30 days old;
- From 1 December 2025 herd restrictions will be applied to any herd with 10 or more BVDU animals over 30 days old;
- From 1 June 2026 herd restrictions will be applied to any herd with 5 or more BVDU animals over 30 days old.
- Keepers who have more than the threshold number of BVDU status animals are sent a letter advising that their herd will be restricted if all BVDU animals over 30 days old are not tested within the following 28 days. Keepers can avoid herd restrictions by ensuring all their animals are tested within 30 days of birth.
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