BVD Statistics

Current overall statistics:

The BVD Control Strategy became compulsory on 1 January 2014.

Please remember that is illegal to move a PI either to another holding or by export; the only route is via an on-Island slaughterhouse (either the Meat Plant or the Fallen Stock).

A summary of the current national herd is shown below. 

Animals which have tested as 'persistently infected' (PI), we term as 'positive'. This page will be regularly updated to show the progress of the BVD Compulsory Strategy.

The central point of any BVD control plan is to both identify and eliminate positive animals.

It may be tempting to retain positive animals which 'look healthy'. Statistically, most will die before maturity, be a financial loss and more importantly, be an on-farm virus factory. True 'isolation' is almost impossible to achieve on farm.

If you have live animals with an unknown status from 2016 or earlier you are now on the list for a Cattle Identification Inspection. Breeding bulls which move MUST have a negative result before they move and imported animals must be tested within their isolation period (or pre-import).

When purchasing animals or hiring bulls ASK if they’re negative.

This is especially important if you’re purchasing in-calf females – a PI on the farm of origin could mean that the dam has already been infected during pregnancy and the subsequent calf will turn out to be positive.

It is really important for you to tell us that PI animals have died/been culled or have been retested.

Your ADS payments may be subject to deductions if you fail to test within the required timescales or if you move positive animals or move unknown animals born/imported after 1 Jan 2014.

Location of BVD Virus Test Positive Animals

If you are a relevant person (e.g. registered IOM cattle keeper or IOM private veterinary surgeon) then lists are available from DEFA (agriculture@gov.im) detailing:

• Holdings with Live BVD Virus Test Positive Animals currently on their holding
• Holdings which have had a BVD Virus Test Positive Animal on their holding in the last 6 weeks

This information is according to records held by the Department under the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Amendment) Order 2017 and must only be used for the purpose of preventing Bovine Viral Diarrhoea disease (BVD) and the spreading of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea disease.

We advise you to view these lists before purchasing any stock or hiring bulls. Be aware that the lists do not cover all risk factors in relation to BVD. The actual levels of risk depend on many factors some relating specifically to the husbandry of your holding. Keepers should therefore seek advice from their private veterinary surgeon on the factors relevant to their particular circumstances.

To avoid doubt, the Department is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided to it under Article 14A of the Order and which the Department subsequently provides to a relevant person.

The information in the lists is a reflection of the data supplied to the Department; therefore cattle keepers are urged to ensure DEFA are informed of any test results, including re-test results and also cattle deaths in a timely manner. BITS Online is updated daily: we are generally in the position of having received BVD results whilst we await the respective calf registrations.