Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Herd Restrictions

BVD Positive and BVD Inconclusive herd restrictions

Herds in which one or more animal has tested BVD positive (BVDP) or inconclusive (BVDI) will be restricted following a ‘grace period’, which will reduce from 28 days to zero days as follows:

• From 01/02/2025 to 30/04/2025, herd restrictions will be applied 28 days after a positive or inconclusive BVD virus test result;
• From 01/05/2025 to 31/01/2026, herd restrictions will be applied seven days after a positive or inconclusive BVD virus test result;
• From 01/02/2026, herd restrictions will be applied immediately when an animal has a positive or inconclusive BVD virus test result.

During the first 12 months, herd restrictions can be avoided if all BVDP or BVDI animals are culled, or re-tested with a negative result, before the end of the ‘grace period’.

Herd restrictions will 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 will also be applied to herds which are linked on NIFAIS due to common disease risks (associated herds).

BVDP herd restrictions will 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)

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 over a 12-month period as follows:

• From 01/06/2025 to 30/11/2025, herd restrictions will be applied to any herd with 20 or more BVDUs >30 days old.
• 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 will also be 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.

From 1st February 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 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.

Further information

Enquiries on the implementation of BVD herd restrictions should be sent to BVDadmin@daera-ni.gov.uk 

Consultation on proposed introduction of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) herd restrictions 

 

Documents

• Herd Restrictions – Frequently Asked QuestionsMicrosoft Word (95.44 KB)