BVD Question

[RedRazok]

This is for those of you with better understanding of it than myself!

We recently bought in 6 Heifers from England
We had them in quarantine for 6 weeks and had the vet test them for Johnes and BVD!

There was 1 come back positive for Johnes so she is going back to the sender!

They all came back negative for BVD Antigen but 3 came back positive for BVD Antibodies and one was inconclusive!
They are al 2year old and 3 months!
They are currently out with our own Heifers and the bull who are all vaccinated for BVD!

Vet is unsure what or if any risk there is with them atm and just wondering if anyone could shed any light on this!

 

[RedRazok]

@bovine

 

[milkloss]

They shouldn’t be a risk at all. They have obviously had bvd as they still have the antibodies to fight it in thier blood. Antibodies can persist for a few years or life in some cases.

If they don’t currently have antigen (the virus) in their blood then they are not a danger to your animals. Even more so if yours have been vaccinated.

 

[RedRazok]

They shouldn’t be a risk at all. They have obviously had bvd as they still have the antibodies to fight it in thier blood. Antibodies can persist for a few years or life in some cases.

If they don’t currently have antigen (the virus) in their blood then they are not a danger to your animals. Even more so if yours have been vaccinated.

That is what we thought between myself and the vet but he wasn't 100% sure and was going to ask the lab etc on Monday!

Don't really wish to be bringing that in to the herd as we are accredited and never had a problem

 

[Wazmos]

They have been exposed to bvd put not infected (pi), they don’t carry any threat to your animals.

 

[Princess Pooper]

This is for those of you with better understanding of it than myself!

We recently bought in 6 Heifers from England
We had them in quarantine for 6 weeks and had the vet test them for Johnes and BVD!

There was 1 come back positive for Johnes so she is going back to the sender!

They all came back negative for BVD Antigen but 3 came back positive for BVD Antibodies and one was inconclusive!
They are al 2year old and 3 months!
They are currently out with our own Heifers and the bull who are all vaccinated for BVD!

Vet is unsure what or if any risk there is with them atm and just wondering if anyone could shed any light on this!

You say how old they are but not whether they were in calf when they arrived. If they are in calf then if they were exposed to BVD on the other farm whilst they were in calf then the calves could be PIs when born.
PS you made a point of saying you bought from England but you do not say where you are, I suspect Scotland. It helps if people put this in their profile.

 

[bruce9001]

You say how old they are but not whether they were in calf when they arrived. If they are in calf then if they were exposed to BVD on the other farm whilst they were in calf then the calves could be PIs when born.
PS you made a point of saying you bought from England but you do not say where you are, I suspect Scotland. It helps if people put this in their profile.

Yes sorry I am newish on here so will need to update all that!
Yes we are in scotland!

They are not in calf so not a risk that way, jist went with our bull this week

 

[milkloss]

Yes sorry I am newish on here so will need to update all that!
Yes we are in scotland!

They are not in calf so not a risk that way, jist went with our bull this week

Not that new obviously!!! Logged in with the wrong ID, better luck next time.

 

[The Ruminant]

Not that new obviously!!! Logged in with the wrong ID, better luck next time.

Good spot

 

[Water Wheel]

Were they vaccinated for BVD before being tested?
Wouldn't this give a positive antibody result, as well as possible exposure to virus, can you differentiate between past infection and vaccination?

 

[Princess Pooper]

Were they vaccinated for BVD before being tested?
Wouldn't this give a positive antibody result, as well as possible exposure to virus, can you differentiate between past infection and vaccination?

You are correct, you can't differentiate between BVD antibody from vaccine as opposed to infection (you can with IBR where there is a marker vaccine).

 

[milkloss]

You are correct, you can't differentiate between BVD antibody from vaccine as opposed to infection (you can with IBR where there is a marker vaccine).

It’s always made me wonder why pay for the anti body test. Seems an extra cost for information that has no real use certainly in a vaccinated herd.

 

[Blod]

I’m surprised a vet advising a farm isn’t up to speed on this. Especially in Scotland!

 

[Princess Pooper]

It’s always made me wonder why pay for the anti body test. Seems an extra cost for information that has no real use certainly in a vaccinated herd.

... but very useful in an unvaccinated herd!! (we are naïve for BVD)

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Aren't they quite young to be testing positive for johnes?

 

[sheepwise]

Aren't they quite young to be testing positive for johnes?

If one out of the batch has tested positive to johnes at that age, I wouldn't be breeding from any of them.

 

[capfits]

Aren't they quite young to be testing positive for johnes?

Yes pointless at that age,
Unless it has been done after a TB test apparently.
I would rather know the Johnes status of breeding herd.

 

[Blod]

Johnes blood testing within 60-90 days of a tb test is known to interfere with the result. Again, your vet might reasonably be expected to know this. It’s why many schemes recommend taking the first bloods before before the ore movement BTb test. Then again 28 days after arrival excepting Johnes if BTb tested. (Quarantined of course)

 

[John Chance]

It's the Johnes positive you need to think about. Quite young to show up, so maybe, but only maybe, a false positive or TB test related. Retest or send the lot back. If one has it, the rest are at risk of having already been infected, but not testing positive yet, developing into infectious carriers, fecking up your herd and then dying. Isolate them while you decide what to do.