A total of 222 samples were sent to DairyCheck – the milk testing service from Intervet – with 162 requesting testing for both BVD and IBR, 37 for IBR alone and 23 for BVD alone.

Reasons given for testing were varied but included infertility, abortion, respiratory disease and diarrhoea.

Of all samples submitted for BVD, 61 per cent had a titre of more than 50, indicative of current active infection. Titres of two to 50 – evidence of infection but not necessarily active – were found in a further 26 per cent.

Of samples submitted for IBR, 39 per cent had a titre above 50 and 32 per cent had a titre between two and 50.

Of all samples submitted for both BVD and IBR testing, 31 per cent had titres of above 50 for both viruses.

“It is great the farmers are keen to diagnose IBR and BVD but the figures for both are high and farmers need to look at how to control the disease,” said Ian Anderson, large animal vet with Intervet. “Control through herd health planning and vaccination is a good way forward.”

Mr Anderson is particularly concerned by the high incidence of IBR, which is the strain of viral pneumonia most commonly linked to respiration problems in adult cattle.

“The figures clearly demonstrate the widespread nature of IBR in the UK. Interestingly, many countries in Europe have IBR eradication programmes but whether this happens in the UK remains to be seen.

Source: farmersguardian.com