The Scottish Government has committed to supporting an ambitious industry-led scheme to eradicating BVD from Scotland. The plan is in four stages.
Stage One: Subsidised screening.
Stage One ran from September 2010 to April 2011. The Scottish Government provided £36 towards testing for BVD for each herd, and a further £72 towards further testing or veterinary advice if the result was positive. Around 4,000 herds took advantage, at a cost of £180,000. For more information and results of the screening tests, please follow the link below
More information on subsidised screening.
Stage Two: Mandatory Annual Screening.
All keepers of breeding cattle herds will be required to screen their herds for BVD by 1 February 2013, and annually thereafter. A range of testing methods is available. Also, where there are calves born in non-breeding herds, they must be tested within 40 days.
More information on Mandatory Annual Screening
Stage Three: Control Measures (Reducing the spread of infection)
Early in 2012 the Scottish Government consulted on proposals to introduce control measures, including movement restrictions. Expected to come into force towards the end of 2013, they will include:
- A ban on knowingly selling/moving cattle infected with BVDV;
- Requiring the herd's BVD status to be declared before sale; and,
- Restrictions on untested herds/animals
More information on proposed control measures
Stage Four: Biosecurity controls and further movement restrictions
If needed, and from a date still be be agreed:
- Herds that have a persistent BVD problem that goes unchecked may be required to protect their cattle neighbours through double-fencing or housing.
- Movement restrictions on herds that are not free of BVD.