1. BVDFree England National BVD Elimination Scheme
This presentation has been created to provide a clear overview of the new BVDFree Scheme.
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2. BVDFree Scheme Voluntary Industry-wide support 3 areas of focus
BVD the disease
BVDFree Scheme
Registration
The Scheme launched on 1st July as a voluntary initiative to deliver the elimination of BVD from all cattle herds in England.
The objective is to have at least 60% of cattle herds registered onto the Scheme by the end of year 2, at which stage the intention is to approach Government and seek compulsory measures to reach all remaining famers.
Whilst this is a voluntary scheme and currently it has no funding, BVDFree are fortunate to have the support of over 100 organisations within the cattle industry; it will be through them that we can reach the majority of farmers and create a culture that recognises and drives the need to have this important disease eliminated from the country.
To achieve the objective, BVDFree will focus on 3 areas:
Education about the disease
Raising awareness of the Scheme
Encouraging farmers to register at every opportunity

3. The top level messages for beef and dairy farmers are included in the promotion materials that have been created…
For beef farmers

4. And dairy farmers

5. Contents Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus BVDFree Scheme
What it is
How it works
Resources to support the scheme
This slide deck was created for a farmer audience to deliver the key messages about BVD and the scheme.

6. BVD – What is it? A highly contagious viral disease of cattle
One of the biggest disease issues facing the UK cattle industry
Signs aren’t always obvious, costs can be hidden
Direct and indirect effects
BVD can be responsible for both direct = reproductive losses and indirect = secondary diseases losses
POOR FERTILITY
SCOUR PNEUMONIA

7. Photos: Keith Cutler, Endell Veterinary Group
BVD – What is it?
Creation of a persistently infected animal (PI)
PI calf with PI mother
For BVD to continue to exist within a herd, you need the presence of persistently infected animals and naiive cattle. Unfortunately it is not possible to detect PI animals visually.
POOR FERTILITY
PI within the herd
Photos: Keith Cutler, Endell Veterinary Group

8. PIs often account for only 1 or 2 out of every 100 animals in a herd
BVD – What is it?
Persistently Infected animals = main source of infection
The only way to be certain is to TEST!
PIs shed high quantities of virus for life
PIs often account for only 1 or 2 out of every 100 animals in a herd
PI animals shed vast quantities of virus throughout their lives to infect cattle that come into contact with them.
The only way to determine whether an animal is PI is through testing.

9. BVDFree England Scheme – what is it?
Members agree to:
Actively engage in BVD control and elimination in the herd
Report all BVD test results to the national database
Allow individual animal/herd results to be accessible through the BVDFree database
Not move Persistently Infected (PI) animals other than directly to slaughter (or through a dedicated red slaughter market)
What is different about this scheme compared to successful regional and local drives and campaigns to eradicate BVD? For 2 reasons
First - The central part of the scheme lies in the provision of a national database that holds individual and herd status for BVD.
Second – the drive to identify AND REMOVE PI animals from the herd.
All farmers registering onto the scheme must agree to the 4 points listed here

10. BVDFree England Scheme – how it works
Set up a BVDFree programme on farm using ADAM:
Assess the level of biosecurity and disease risk on farm
Define the BVD status of your herd
Action plan for control of BVD on farm put in place
Monitor progress – annual status check
The BVDFree structure has been set up using the acronym ADAM.

11. BVD Elimination using ADAM Seek Veterinary Advice
Step 1: Assess Herd
Biosecurity / Vaccination
Disease history / Disease risk
Not satisfactory
Seek Veterinary Advice
Satisfactory
Step 2: Define Herd Status
Using antibody ELISA:
Blood test young stock from each management group ( months of age)
Bulk milk/ first lactation cohort antibody samples (may include bulk milk PCR)
OR using antigen ELISA or PCR
Tag and Test all youngstock born for a minimum of two years
Step 3a: Action Plan
put in place to control risk of introducing BVD onto farm
No PI animals
Active BVD
Step 3b: Action Plan
Screen for PIs on farm
Test all animals – cull PIs
Test all calves for 1 year after PIs removed – cull PIs
Continue for further 12 months if more PIs found – cull PIs
Use antigen ELISA and/or pooled samples for PCR (tissue or blood)
– confirm test criteria with lab
This flow chart shows the process of achieving and sustaining BVD elimination in a beef or dairy herd.
Step 4: Monitor progress Repeat Step 2 to retain BVDFree herd status
month intervals for young stock antibody and/or quarterly for bulk milk antibody OR
Continue to Tag and Test all youngstock born
Join accreditation / surveillance programme

12. BVDFree England - how it works
bvdfree.org.uk
register for Scheme
Check individual animal by entering tag number
Check if a herd is registered on BVDFree England
Recognition when you sell
Peace of mind when you buy
One of the most useful resources available to the Scheme is the website.
This is where you can register, check BVD status of individuals and herds, and check if a herd is registered with the scheme, ie actively engaging in BVD elimination.

13. BVDFree England – how it works
Joining the Scheme is FREE
Charges to upload all results onto the database
To cover the costs of setting up and running the national database and BVDFree Helpdesk
25p per test to upload antigen test results
50p per test to upload antibody test results
There is a small charge to have the results uploaded onto the database – this is to cover the initial set up costs of the database and to allow the provision of a heldesk.

14. Resources and further information
Website bvdfree.org.uk
#BVDFree
Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS)
BVDFree Supporters (see list on website)
Speak to your vet for more information about BVD elimination on your farm
In addition to finding out more on the website, you can contact BVDFree by and ask specific questions.
Follow BVDFree on Twitter.
Find more about CHeCS guidelines on BVD eradication and biosecurity, as well as advice on controlling other infectious diseases.
Check the list of supporters.
Always refer to your own vet to find out the best way to control BVD on your farm.

15. BVDFree England Scheme get involved
ADAM
Join online through the website
Start the process of becoming BVDFree using the ADAM guidelines
Test for PI animals using blood, tissue or milk
Remember biosecurity is very important to ensure BVD doesn’t come onto your farm once you are free
Finally – always check online to see if animals you are buying in are BVD free so you don’t bring infected animals onto your farm

16. Acknowledgements BVDFree Technical Group
AHDB, AHI, AHWNI, Biobest, CHeCS, SAC, Scottish Government