95% of herds face BVD survey
24 September 1999
95% of herds face BVD — survey
By Vicky Houchin
AN INCREASINGLY common disease has emerged as one of the most costly infections affecting UK dairy herds, according to the results of a new survey.
About 95% of British herds have been exposed to Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) over the past three or four years, but only 4% of producers believe it is a problem.
The survey was carried out by the health company Intervet and echoes similar findings from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) earlier this year.
SAC economists estimated that a BVD infection could cost a 100-cow suckler herd more than £45,000 over a 10-year period.
Ian Mawhinney, veterinary surgeon with Intervet, said BVD cost £70-£90 per infected dairy cow in terms of poor calf health, milk reduction, and poor fertility.
To combat the disease, Intervet has launched a vaccine which will compete in the marketplace with Bovidec, until now the only other vaccine against BVD.
Intervet launched the vaccine at this weeks European Dairy Event with a new milk-testing service to determine whether herds are at risk from the disease.
“Farmers are better placed than they have ever been to beat the scourge of BVD,” claimed Mr Mawhinney.
The “Get-Started” vaccination programme costs about £3/head, but Intervet was unable to say how much the vaccine would eventually cost.
A similar free testing programme offered by the Dundee-based company Vericore was launched at this years Royal Show.
Mark Binns, Vericores marketing manager, said awareness of BVD has increased and claims to have tested 1100 farms under its testing scheme.
“Only 18 months ago, 20% of dairy farmers had heard of BVD,” he said. “A lot of education work has been going on.”
Vericore launched its Bovidec vaccine three years ago, but sales of the drug had tripled over the past year, he added.
The Intervet product costs £2 less than the Vericore product, but lasts for only six months before a booster is needed, compared to Bovidecs 14 months.
Gloucestershire vet Chris Watson said that although the two drugs are different, they both work using the same principles.
It would be splitting hairs to judge which was the best drug based on its cost without looking at how long it lasted, he said.