Scottish BVD Eradication Scheme: guidance

Overview

We are committed to supporting Scotland’s cattle keepers in eradicating Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), a serious infectious disease of cattle. 

BVD control is centred on the identification of Persistently Infected (PI) animals and the removal of these cattle from the herd.  PIs are known to be the main cause of BVD infection, producing large volumes of virus from the moment of birth until death, and putting unprotected cattle at risk. 

Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme has been developed by the BVD Advisory Group with input from stakeholders and experts.  The scheme has been backed by legislation since 2013 and Phase 6 is underpinned by the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025. 

Phase 6 requirements 

Phase 6 started on 1 July 2025 and is made up of the following measures to bolster existing BVD requirements:

1. Increased obligations for non-breeding herds
2. Delay existing restrictions for moves into BVD Positive herds
3. Increased consequence of failure to comply with CBI
4. Compulsory test for the presence of BVD virus for calves of 'Trojan cows'

1. Increased obligations for non-breeding herds

Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme has always focused on breeding herds because these are the source of Persistently Infected (PI) calves.  Non-breeding herds therefore have fewer obligations.  Up to Phase 5, non-breeding herds only had two obligations.  They were required to BVD test any calf born on the premises before it reached 40 days of age and, if a BVD Positive animal was found in the herd, immediate restrictions came in to force to stop animals moving in to the herd.  The restrictions were lifted as soon as the BVD Positive animal was retested (by a vet) with a negative result or was removed from the herd (killed on farm or sent direct to slaughter). 

Separate housing

Phase 6 adds to the requirements for non-breeding herds by requiring all BVD positive animals to be housed separately from other animals as soon as the positive result is reported.  Housing BVD positive animals separately from cattle of other BVD status reduces the infection risk for neighbouring herds.  This housing requirement brings non-breeding herds in to line with breeding herds.

Public listing

Phase 6 will also see non-breeding herds listed on the PI locator if they retain a BVD  animal for more than 40 days.  This is a publicly visible list of CPH numbers which until now has been limited to breeding herds.  It allows prospective purchasers to check BVD risk and increases awareness for neighbouring herds so that they can take biosecurity precautions.    

2. Delay existing restrictions for moves in to holdings with BVD positive animals

BVD positive animals are suspect or confirmed PIs, and have a high risk of spreading infection internally and to other herds.  Phase 5 introduced immediate restrictions on moves of cattle onto a holding where a BVD positive animal was already present, which came in to effect as soon as the positive result was reported by the laboratory. 

Phase 6 modifies the restriction, giving a grace period of 40 days from the report of a positive result before the restrictions come in to effect.  This will allow keepers to take optional action on the BVD positive animal, e.g. arrange for the vet to take a confirmatory sample and/or remove the animal from the holding before farm business is disrupted by restrictions. 

If the positive animal is still on the holding after 40 days, restrictions will apply and all movements of cattle onto the holding will stop.  Movement licences are available to allow moves in, but are strictly limited for use in exceptional circumstances only.

The delay to movement restrictions does not affect the existing requirement to house BVD positive animals separately from cattle of other BVD status.  BVD positive cattle must be housed immediately in line with existing Phase 5 requirements.      

3. Increased consequences of failure to comply with the Compulsory BVD Investigation (CBI): coming into force on 1 February 2026

Phase 5 introduced the Compulsory BVD Investigation for herds that are continuously BVD Not Negative for 15 months. The herds are given a further 13 months to complete the required testing as directed by their vet.  Herds with an overdue CBI have therefore been continuously Not Negative for 28 months and have not done enough BVD testing to show that BVD is absent. These herds may have undisclosed BVD infection, which makes them a risk to buyers and neighbours.

Public listing

To protect the compliant majority of herds, Phase 6 will see public listing of non-compliant CBI herds.  Their CPH number will be listed on ScotEID so that potential buyers and neighbours can take appropriate biosecurity precautions.  As soon as the CBI is completed (i.e. when the farm vet is satisfied that sufficient BVD testing has been done and the herd has a BVD Negative status, the CPH will be removed from the list.

Restrictions on cattle moving in to the herd

Phase 6 will also introduce restrictions for non-compliant CBI herds: as soon as the CBI becomes overdue, movements in to the herd will be stopped.  This will reduce the number of animals that are potentially exposed to infection.  When the CBI is completed, and the herd has a BVD Negative status, restrictions will be lifted.  Movement licences are available to allow moves in, but are strictly limited to use in exceptional circumstances only.

4. Compulsory test for the presence of BVD virus for calves of 'Trojan cows': coming into force on 1 February 2026

A Trojan cow is a pregnant female that is carrying a calf of unknown BVD status.  Any female that is in-calf when brought in to the herd could be a Trojan cow.  If the dam was infected with BVD in early pregnancy, the unborn calf will be a PI and could cause a damaging BVD outbreak after it is born.

Phase 6 will introduce mandatory BVD testing for calves of all dams that moved onto a holding while they were pregnant.  Calves born on or after 1 February 2026 must be individually tested for BVD virus before they are 40 days old, or before they move off the holding if this happens earlier. 

The most cost effective way of BVD testing young calves is by tissue tagging.  It is now possible to use BVD management tags to test cattle of all ages, including young calves so keepers can use the calf’s official ear tag or a BVD management tag.  It is best to tissue tag calves as soon after birth as possible, and to send the sample(s) to a BVD approved laboratory without delay.  Keepers who don’t routinely tissue tag calves are advised to keep a supply of BVD management tags for testing calves of dams that were pregnant when they arrived on the holding.

During the time when the calf of a Trojan cow does not have an individual BVD status, the herd status will become BVD Not Negative. As soon as the calf has an individual BVD Negative status, is reported dead or is removed from the herd, the herd status will revert to normal.  

If the calf of a Trojan cow is moved to another breeding holding without being tested, that holding will also lose its BVD Negative status.  The herd status will be restored as soon as the calf has an individual BVD Negative status, is reported dead or is removed from the herd.