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Bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) is a costly disease that is prevalent in many dairy herds. It is a disease that
producers need to be very concerned about for a number of reasons
1 BVDis a complex disease that can cause serious outbreaks, death and great economic losses The
virus can live m almost every tissue of an infected animal’s body, and produce a wide ranee of
symptoms, some of which are: 6
- abortions and mummified fetuses.
- early embryonic deaths and repeat breeders.
- birth defects.
- calf mortality at an early age.
- diarrhea.
- fever.
- respiratory problems.
- poor doing calves and cows.
- immune suppression and increased susceptibility to other diseases and problems.
2. Thejlisease is very contagious, and the virus is shed in almost all of an infected animal's excretio.
ana secretions, and can be spread in a variety of ways:
- exposure to clinically infected and non-clinically infected cows within the herd.
- exposure to infected cows at auctions, fairs, etc.
- purchase of infected cattle.
- infected colostrum, semen, etc.
- contaminated equipment (needles, hoof trimming tools, dehomers, etc.)
- biting insects.
Thanks and Congratulations to ...
180-Caw Free Stall Bam Features:
* 16’ high sides for
Improved ventilation
• curtains at side &
gable end
♦ Paul B, Zimmerman
stalls, gates & fencing
A
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DAIRY FARM
BASICS
A Farm Management Course by
Glenn A. Shirk
Penn State Extension Agent
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
>vme Vi
The CadwaDader Family ” Wsidac Farm, Salem, NJ
TRIPLE H Construction
430 Springville Road, Ephrata, PA 17522
717-738-2142 • 1-(800)-874-7531 • 1-(800)-TRIPLE-1
Custom Builders of Dairy, Horse, Storage, Residential & Commercial Buildings
on their New Free Stall Bam Dairy Facility
• rubber-filled mattresses
with 80 oz. top cover
• rubber belting in
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• tile feed trough
♦ Ritchie waters
3. Persistently infected (PI) animals can be the major source of infection in the herd" These animals
are non-chmcal, they appear normal, and they can be shedding large doses of the virus They need
to be identified and culled from the herd immediately
The goal should be to work with your veterinarian to establish a B VD control and prevention program for
your herd, and then implement that program with great diligence Some ideas for considerations are
Vaccinate
Vaccinate calves at 6 months of age and again at 12 months with a MLV BVD vaccine After
that, revaccinate every 12 months NOTE do not use MLV BVD vaccine on pregnant cattle
Killed vaccines can be used, but they are not as effective as a modified live vaccines (MLV)
However, they can be administered to pregnant cattle At 6 months of age, calves will need
two doses of the killed vaccine, given 2 to 4 weeks apart, and another two-dose shot about six
months later. After that, heifers and cows should receive booster shots about twice a year
Protect newly purchased cattle, other incoming cattle, and your resident herd from each other
- Protect the resident herd from incoming cattle (purchased cattle, contracted heifers, show cattle,
etc ) with a good vaccination program (see item 1, above) Allow enough time for cattle to
mount an effective immune response For a MLV program, allow 2 weeks from the last shot
to the time that incoming cattle amve, allow 4 weeks for killed vaccine programs
- Also protect incoming cattle from the herd they will be moving into with a similar vaccinaUon
program -- preferably before they amve, if possible Don’t take a chance and trust someone
else’s word or a signed statement that they have been “properly protected”. That’s not to say
they are dishonest; their idea of protection may differ from that of yours, or their recollection of
facts may be less than accurate
Test purchased cattle for persistent BVD infection, and then test the calves they were carrying to see
if any of them are persistently infected If possible, test the animal and get the results before these
animals amve at your farm Keep the purchased cattle isolated until test results are known
If you have a lot of reproductive problems and other unexplained or unsolveable problems, consult
your veterinarian about the possibility of screen testing the herd for persistently infected BVD
animals, and depending upon these results, the need for testing every animal m the herd
Sell all persistently infected cattle for slaughter
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20, 1999-A33
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