Bvd

[biggles]

I have no experience of bvd, I’ve got 40 suckler cows and last year i had a few poor calves (unusual) and a few abortions, and 9 not in calf, it’s been suggested that this could indicate bvd. I’m interested in tag testing this years calves to give me an idea of if anything is going on. What advice or recommendations can anyone give me. Most calve in April/may although the bull runs out all year so there are always odd ones anytime, currently nothing is vaccinated against anything, replacements are normally bought in as young stores from market. Cheers

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Buying replacements from the market and not testing them or vaccinating them is like playing Russian roulette with a machine gun

get them tested and I would still vaccinate them for the cost/peace of mind.

buy Shearwell tag and test tags...nothing could be easier

 

[twizzel]

See if your vet can get you onto BVD free, I know it ends soon but they might be able to squeeze you on. That would involve bloods from a few in each group to see if BVD is circulating in the herd- and if so then BVD free can fund a PI hunt. If time has run out for BVD free it’s probably still worth doing it anyway, then cull any PIs and start vaccinating and tag testing (we use shearwell, no problems). If you’ve already bought your new runs of tags, just get a run of management tissue testing tags, that’s what we did, still got a few left for if a tag test gets lost in post or we buy a new bull etc.

 

[biggles]

Was going to have a discussion with the vet when tb next month, see what his take on the matter is, I would normally sell all the calves at 8-10 month old, through the store ring, as I’m not set up for finishing cattle. If a calf came back positive, are there people buy these calves for finishing etc as culling would be financial ruin if there was more than the odd one. What would normal practice be with suckler calves? Did also stop buying in since the first lockdown so now seems as good a chance as any to get on top of things. Cheers

 

[Samcowman]

Best practise with a PI is to shoot it if it’s a calf then check it’s mother to see if she is a PI. Doing this can clear out BVD from your herd in one year because if the calf is clear it means the cow is clear. The dam of a PI won’t necessarily be a PI.
It is going to cost you in testing whether you tag test all calves born and incoming heifers or if you do a screening blood test. Which chances are there is exposure in the herd due to buying in replacements so you would need to tag test anyway.

 

[twizzel]

Was going to have a discussion with the vet when tb next month, see what his take on the matter is, I would normally sell all the calves at 8-10 month old, through the store ring, as I’m not set up for finishing cattle. If a calf came back positive, are there people buy these calves for finishing etc as culling would be financial ruin if there was more than the odd one. What would normal practice be with suckler calves? Did also stop buying in since the first lockdown so now seems as good a chance as any to get on top of things. Cheers

A lot of the PI won’t make it to finishing stage, they get mucosal disease and die. Best shot as soon as you find out it’s a PI, cut your losses.

 

[Highland Mule]

as culling would be financial ruin if there was more than the odd one.

no, this...

had a few poor calves (unusual) and a few abortions, and 9 not in calf,

would be the cause of your financial ruin.

Just order up enough test tags for everything and get it done alongside next month’s test.

 

[Henarar]

Best to get the vet to do a pool blood test of a few of the cows to see if its circulating in the herd, if you can get it done on the DVD free scheme then so much the better but get it done as soon as pos so you know what your up against

 

[milkloss]

A lot of the PI won’t make it to finishing stage, they get mucosal disease and die. Best shot as soon as you find out it’s a PI, cut your losses.

Having been in the OP position on a slightly larger scale I would recommend this course of action. If you confirm a PI calf I can almost guarantee you it won't get better, will cost you money and die at some point before you sell it (which you shouldn't be doing anyway). A TI (transiently infected) calf will even give you trouble for a few weeks until better.

if it is bvd then one would hope you had a short term storm and the worst is over but you'll still have health issues in the calves I suspect. We noticed calf health improve enormously when we started vaccination..... less scours, joint il, pneumonia, thriftiness etc etc.

I should think you'll need to do some reading as I had to but if you tag and test when you're having BVD move through your animals it can be very difficult to see the wood for the trees. A new born calf can show viral dna in 24hrs (might be 36, can't remember now) if there is bvd moving around the herd so test tags need to go in ASAP after birth to prevent TI's showing positive and having to retest them three weeks later.

get some unofficial test tags too so you can test the anything dead or aborted if that happens.

Good luck. Nothing worse than crappy calves and I hope your calving goes well. If you do have an issue and get on top of it you'll be amazed how much better your stock will perform for you.

 

[Whitepeak]

We've been tag testing for about 8yrs now, but still signed up to the free blood tests.
Tag test will only show you if that animal is a PI I think. Whereas the blood screen will show if there is any low level disease circulating in your herd, BVD can spread a bit like the flu ie make a cow a bit sick for a few days and can be picked up over a fence or in a market. However the original source is always a PI, so getting rid of any PIs in your herd is the priority.
We also tag test all calves born dead as well.

 

[puppet]

Looks like half your cows are not productive. A BVD tag is around £5. To blood test will be covered by one live store beast.
Stop buying all your replacements and keep your better heifers as you are either buying in more disease or exposing them to the infected animals in your herd.
With 40 cows you should have no abortions most years. We have 110 and 5 years since last one which we had tested but no cause found.

 

[Henarar]

While tag testing is good @biggles doesn't know that BVD is the problem and there are other things that could be the cause
could spend a couple months putting tags in and coming up with nothing while the actual problem if it is something else gets worse, so that's why I say blood test

 

[milkloss]

We've been tag testing for about 8yrs now, but still signed up to the free blood tests.
Tag test will only show you if that animal is a PI I think. Whereas the blood screen will show if there is any low level disease circulating in your herd, BVD can spread a bit like the flu ie make a cow a bit sick for a few days and can be picked up over a fence or in a market. However the original source is always a PI, so getting rid of any PIs in your herd is the priority.
We also tag test all calves born dead as well.

A tag test will show if the animal is currently infected with BVD. This could be TI or PI. A second test after three weeks will show if the viral dna is still present. If so the animal will a PI.

 

[dinderleat]

Tag and testing should be compulsory with then removal of bvd pi’s

 

[milkloss]

Tag and texting should be compulsory

Just not with limmy mothers!

 

[dinderleat]

You could tag and test all your animals for £100 ish

 

[biggles]

Thanks for all the replies, if I get some tags and do the calves at birth, could/should I also take a tag to the cow or does it not work like that? Sorry for my ignorance in the matter. Where is the best place to get some tags from? Also can I get blank ones as I already have the next 80 sets of tag pairs, cheers

 

[Highland Mule]

Yes, just get management tags with BVD test on them. Shearwell do button types too, as I’m sure all the manufacturers do - so phone your usual and ask them.

You’ll probably need a different pair of pliers, but that’s it.

 

[Whitepeak]

A tag test will show if the animal is currently infected with BVD. This could be TI or PI. A second test after three weeks will show if the viral dna is still present. If so the animal will a PI.

I didn't realise that, thanks. We've never actually had a +ve on tag test, I'll remember that if we ever do

 

[Samcowman]

Thanks for all the replies, if I get some tags and do the calves at birth, could/should I also take a tag to the cow or does it not work like that? Sorry for my ignorance in the matter. Where is the best place to get some tags from? Also can I get blank ones as I already have the next 80 sets of tag pairs, cheers

I always have a few management tissue sampling tags in stock because there’s usually a couple every year that have insufficient sample so need another test.
If the calf is negative on the tag test then the dam will be as well. It will only be worth doing the dam if the calf is a positive.
The tag test tests for antigen which shows if the animal is a TI or PI. But if you did antibody tests on a sample of the herd you would check for antibodies which show if BVD is circulating. Last years calves are best failing that do some cows.