Herd keepers reminded of reduced BVD restriction threshold from 01 June 2026
Date published:
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has reminded herd keepers that from next month the threshold for applying Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) herd restrictions will reduce.
From June 1 2026, the threshold will reduce to five untested animals (BVDUs) over 30 days old within a herd.
Herd keepers who meet this reduced threshold will receive a warning letter advising that restrictions will be applied unless all untested animals in their herd are tested within 28 days.
The measures are intended to help identify any potentially infectious animals quickly and support herd keepers in protecting their animals and neighbouring herds and to ensure that progress towards BVD eradication is maintained.
Minister Muir said: “I am very pleased to see the substantial progress achieved in controlling BVD to date. I am also grateful that most farmers recognise the serious impact this disease can have and are taking all possible action to protect their herds, including ensuring that animals are tested promptly. However, this change from 1 June, is necessary to further reduce the number of untested animals in Northern Ireland, which could be silently spreading the disease.
“I appreciate that these stricter measures may result in more herds being restricted, however, no herd needs to be restricted due to untested (BVDU status) animals if herd keepers act promptly. I would therefore encourage all keepers to review the BVD status of animals in their herd now, and ensure that any BVDU animals are tested as soon as possible.”
Where herd restrictions are applied, all movements into and out of the herd will be prohibited, except to direct slaughter or for disposal. Herds associated by DAERA due to common disease risks will also be restricted. In exceptional circumstances, DAERA may permit certain movements under licence.
The reduced threshold represents the final stage in the phased introduction of BVD herd restrictions, developed in collaboration between DAERA, Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland and industry, and first introduced on 1 February 2025. These measures aim to support the eradication of this serious and highly contagious disease from Northern Ireland’s cattle population.
Further details of the BVD measures, including how herd restrictions are applied and lifted and the steps herd keepers can take to avoid them, are available on the DAERA website: Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Herd Restrictions.
Notes to editors:
- Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is a serious and highly contagious disease of cattle, which reduces productivity and profitability and compromises animal welfare.
- BVD is mainly spread by persistently infected (PI) cattle, which are born with the disease after coming into contact with the virus in the womb. The virus can also spread via transiently infected cattle, which may shed virus for a short period (typically 2 to 3 weeks) before recovering.
- 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 enter 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.
- Keepers whose herds meet or exceed the threshold number of BVDU status animals over 30 days old are issued with a warning letter advising that their herd will be restricted unless all untested animals in the herd are tested within the following 28 days. Restrictions can therefore be avoided if herd keepers act promptly to test all outstanding animals.
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