Bovine Viral Diarrhoea eradication scheme: consultation on phase five

The Scottish BVD Eradication Scheme

The Scottish BVD eradication scheme has been developed by our stakeholders via the BVD Advisory Group, with backing from Government through legislation throughout the various phases of the eradication scheme.

The eradication scheme is designed to reduce the number of PI calves being born by firstly putting responsibility and power in the hands of farmers, and then by making it increasingly difficult for them to continue to have BVD virus active in their herd. The intention is to encourage farmers to eliminate BVD from their own herds, but those who choose not to will be inconvenienced in terms of trading disadvantages, movement restrictions and biosecurity controls.

The guiding principles are:

• The scheme is industry-led. The Scottish Government is working with all stakeholders and the scheme has been developed to reflect the interests of all parties; we would not act against the wishes of industry.
• Industry benefits directly from BVD eradication, so it bears some of the costs.
• As industry is bearing some costs, the requirements are flexible with a range of options for testing.
• The scheme encourages rather than forces, becoming stricter over time.

Over the course of the eradication scheme, the Scottish Government has introduced the legislative requirement for keepers of breeding herds to screen their cattle annually for BVD and has introduced control measures based on the result of the annual screening test. There is also a requirement to test all calves that are born on non-breeding holdings and a prohibition on moving PIs and suspect PIs anywhere other than direct to slaughter.