Infection with BVD virus causes suppression of the immune system and can cause symptoms in multiple body systems. It affects reproduction and the unborn calf, and contributes to outbreaks of diseases such as pneumonia and scours (diarrhoea). A Persistently Infected (PI) calf can develop fatal Mucosal Disease.

Why participate

• Costs resulting from the disease often go unrecognised as symptoms resemble common problems. In the Netherlands costs are estimated at between 21 and 412 euro per cow per year.
• Persistently Infected cattle cannot be cured and will cause widespread infection.
• Eradication will be cost-effective in any farm situation. 

What sampling is involved

• Initial bulk tank milk scanning for BVD virus and BVD antibodies. In young stock this means antibody screening by blood sampling (QuickScan BVD): a combination of tests to indicate the status of your herd and the possible presence of PI calves. QuickScan BVD consists of RT-PCR on Bulk milk/ Ab-ELISA on Bulk milk/Ab-ELISA on blood of non- vaccinated animals aged 8-12 months.
• Depending on the outcome, a farm can participate in a programme (4 routes possible) to become BVD-free.
• Once a farm has eradicated BVD it will participate in a monitoring programme to maintain its BVD-free status

How you get advised

• GD experts advise whether a custom QuickScan BVD is needed on your farm.
• With these results, we will advise you on which of the 4 different routes to a BVD-free status is most suitable.
• After eradication, your farm will be monitored and you will be supported to maintain a high BVD status. If your farm faces a new BVD infection, we will run a detection programme to re-establish your BVD-free status

Our experts

Emma Strous Emma Strous studied Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University. After graduation in 2012, she completed a one year ‘Junior Clinical Training Scholarship in farm animal health and production’ at the University of Cambridge. Back in the Netherlands she spent a few years in practice as a dairy veterinarian. In 2017 she was employed by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht as a lecturer and later as a resident for the European College of Bovine Health Management. After passing the certifying examination in 2021, she accepted a position of bovine specialist at Royal GD with special interest in infectious diseases, dairy herd health and youngstock. Fields of expertise and publications

 

Katrien van den Brink, DVM Katrien van den Brink studied veterinary medicine at Utrecht University. After graduation in Utrecht she had a broad working experince in different area’s in de dairy business. She started her carreer working in large animal practice (mainly dairy), with specific interest in disease-prevention en dairy cattle management. After a few years in dairy practice she went back to the veterinary faculty, where she was a lecturer/ researcher at the Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. As an innovation manager she worked at the researchfarm for the Aeres University of Applied Science. Next to teaching and pracital on farm training she played a big rol in different research projects. Since 2018 Katrien works as a dairy specialist at GD Animal Health in Deventer, the Netherlands. Her main focus areas are disease prevention, biosecurity and control of bovine infectious diseases, especially BVD, IBR and Leptospirosis. Fields of expertise and publications