Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Herd Restrictions
Date published:
The Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Control Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 which came into force on 1st February 2025 gives DAERA powers to apply herd restrictions in specific circumstances to control BVD. Restrictions will be applied in a progressive basis over a 16-month period.
BVD Positive and BVD Inconclusive herd restrictions
On 1 February 2026 the ‘grace period’ before restrictions are applied was removed. From that date, herds in which one or more animal has tested BVD positive (BVDP) or inconclusive (BVDI) will be restricted immediately following a positive or inconclusive test result.
Herd restrictions prohibit all moves into the herd, and all moves out except to direct slaughter. In exceptional cases, DAERA may allow moves in or out under licence.
Where BVDP or BVDI herd restrictions are applied, the same restrictions are also applied to herds which are linked on NIFAIS due to common disease risks (associated herds).
BVDP herd restrictions remain until:
- 21 days after the removal of the last BVDP animal; and
- all animals in the herd over 30 days old have a negative test result (BVDN or INDNEG)
BVDI herd restrictions are removed immediately if:
- the BVDI animal re-tests negative for BVD or is removed from the herd; and
- all animals in the herd over 30 days old have a negative test result (BVDN or INDNEG)
BVD Unknown status herd restrictions
Movement restrictions will be applied to herds with animals of unknown BVD status (BVDU).
Restrictions will initially apply to only the most non-compliant herds, with the tolerance threshold reducing as follows:
- From 01/12/2025 to 31/05/2026, herd restrictions will be applied to any herd with 10 or more BVDUs >30 days old.
- From 01/06/2026, herd restrictions will be applied to any herd with 5 or more BVDUs >30 days old.
Herd restrictions will prohibit all moves into the herd, and all moves out except to direct slaughter. In exceptional cases, DAERA may allow BVD negative status animals to move in or out under licence.
Where BVDU herd restrictions are applied, the same restrictions are also applied to herds linked on NIFAIS due to common disease risks (associated herds).
BVDU herd restrictions will be lifted when all animals in the herd more than 30 days old have a negative test result (BVDN or INDNEG).
Trojan Restrictions
A pregnant animal which is carrying a BVD infected calf is referred to as a ‘trojan’. These animals are a very important route by which BVD virus can enter a previously uninfected farm. In a herd which has recently had a BVD positive animal, all pregnant females should be considered high-risk animals.
Trojan restrictions are being implemented from 1 March 2026.
Following a positive test result, all females in the herd of breeding age (>= 12 months old) will be restricted to the herd for 41 weeks following the removal of the last BVD positive animal. The restriction of individual females will be lifted earlier if any of the following conditions apply:
- the restricted female has a calf (including an aborted calf or stillbirth) which has been BVD tested with a negative result;
- the restricted female tested positive for BVD antibodies at an approved laboratory from a blood sample taken within the previous 12 months and before the insemination preceding its current gestation; or
- the restricted female tested negative for BVD antibodies, on a blood sample taken at least 21 days after the day on which the last bovine in the herd with a positive test result was removed.
Restricted females can only move to direct slaughter. Licenced moves to another farm will only be permitted in exceptional cases.
If you wish to arrange for the removal of restrictions on individual females, the appropriate blood samples should be taken and evidence of the results provided to AHWNI using the “BVDFem removal by antibody testing” form available below.
Further information
Enquiries on the implementation of BVD herd restrictions should be sent to BVDadmin@daera-ni.gov.uk