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AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Russ Daly, extension veterinarian from South Dakota State University. Today we discuss bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), an RNA envelope virus that can have devastating effects in beef and dairy herds. BVD can have many effects in cattle and Daly discusses the impacts of the virus on reproduction and immunosuppression. The primary focus of a control program should be in preventing persistently infected (PI) calves. Daly discusses that 2/10-4/10% of animals that arrive in the feedlot are PI animals, but the incidence can vary between and within cow calf herds. Data from the SDSU laboratory shows that of submissions, about 1.5 to 3% of calf samples are PI for BVD.

 When determining which diagnostic test to run, Daly states that we want to detect viral antigen and this is typically done using antigen capture ELISA testing. He discusses pooling ear notch samples to decrease cost but recommends veterinarians contact their laboratory diagnostician for advice on submitting samples. It is also important to not forget purchased heifers, cows and bulls. When testing purchases, it is critical to not forget the gestating fetus to screen for PI and therefore all fetuses born to purchased animals should be tested at birth. Ensuring that PI animals do not enter the breeding pasture is important to mitigate the risk of PI animals being born into the herd. 

 Veterinarians should work with producers to make sure they have a good BVD control program implemented. Outbreaks tend to be much more costly and devastating than preventing the introduction of BVD into the herd. A sound reproduction protocol, biosecurity measures, vaccination and strategic diagnostic testing are ways that veterinarians can implement control programs to prevent BVD in herds.