BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) is a viral disease of cattle which is wide-spread in New Zealand. Affecting both dairy and beef herds, it is estimated that about half of herds are “actively-infected” with BVD at any given time¹ and the cost of BVD to the New Zealand cattle industry is around $150 million a year.²

BVD causes pregnancy loss, diarrhoea, milk drop, and reduced growth rates. It also suppresses the immune system, making animals more susceptible to other diseases, such as pneumonia and salmonella.

Research in New Zealand and overseas shows that it pays to control BVD; it is always more cost-effective to do something than to do nothing³. Moreover, a well-executed BVD control plan will help you achieve other farm goals, like improving animal welfare, reducing antibiotic usage, and improving reproductive performance.

BVD is spread by “persistently-infected” or “PI” cattle.  The key to BVD control is therefore to find and eliminate PIs from within your herd, then protect your herd from contact with outside PIs.   This can be accomplished by: monitoring the herd, testing individual animals, improving biosecurity, and strategically vaccinating ‘at-risk’ cattle. 

For more information about BVD, including how to test for and control BVD click here

1 Han, JH et al. (2018). Using Bayesian network modelling to untangle farm management risk factors for bovine viral diarrhoea virus infection. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 161:75-82.
2 The BVD Management Toolkit. BVD Steering Committee
3 Weir, A. (2016). Epidemiology of BVD in New Zealand dairy herds. Massey University PhD thesis dissertation

For information about prevention with Bovilis^® BVD vaccine click here

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a complex disorder of cattle causing respiratory disease and even death. It is caused by a combination of infectious agents and stress factors (weaning, transport, mixing, weather extremes, dust, handling and change of diet) acting on susceptible cattle in paddock and more intensive systems.

Signs of BRD include:

• Fever
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Dullness
• Coughing
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Watery, then purulent nasal and/or eye discharge
• Excess salivation

Due to the intensification of farming, BRD may have a larger impact on New Zealand in the future than what we have seen historically. Most cattle are susceptible to BRD at some point, and it can impact performance.

For information about prevention with Bovilis^® MH+IBR vaccine click here

Neonatal diarrhoea is arguably one of the most common diseases of newborn calves worldwide. The consequences on animal welfare and those managing the calves can be devastating. The cost of mortality, poor growth and performance as well as treatment costs, all need to be considered. The infectious agents that cause neonatal calf diarrhoea are prevalent in New Zealand. In a recent survey 96% of farms in New Zealand had pathogens that can cause calf scours detected¹.

For more information about calf scours and calf health in general click here

For information about prevention with Rotavec^® Corona vaccine  click here