BVD Outbreak!

This year we’ve seen several outbreaks of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) across our clients’ farms. BVD is a serious disease that can cause poor growth in youngstock, infertility, abortions, and even death.

In 2025, we’ve had BVD cases ranging from just a single affected animal to outbreaks involving up to 40 calves. The most severe case was traced back to a persistently infected (PI) bull used during mating last season. This one animal led to reduced in-calf rates, increased abortions, and the birth of around 40 PI calves.

PI calves fail to thrive and spread the virus to their herd mates, temporarily reducing growth rates and increasing sickness throughout the mob. Unfortunately, all 40 PI calves in this case had to be culled.

Preventing BVD on your farm 

The good news is that BVD can be effectively managed and even prevented with a few key steps:

• Buy wisely: ensure all purchased stock come from BVD-free herds.

• Bull management: only use bulls that are BVD-tested and vaccinated.

• Annual monitoring: test bulk milk annually for signs of BVD exposure and/or virus.

  • This can be organised through us and our trusted laboratory, or directly through LIC.

• Test youngstock: annual calf testing is recommended for higher-risk herds.

• Vaccination: strongly consider vaccinating if your animals graze off-farm or come into contact with outside stock.

BVD prevention relies on vigilance and routine testing. If you’d like to discuss how to best protect your herd, get in touch with one of our vets. We’re happy to help develop a BVD prevention plan that suits your farm.