Scottish BVD Eradication Scheme: guidance

How to comply with Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme rules

Annual screening

All breeding herds are required to carry out screening for BVD annually:

• there are 3 acceptable screening methods to choose from
• samples must be submitted to an approved laboratory
• the result will be issued by the laboratory, and will set the herd status to BVD Negative or Not Negative. Results will be reported by the laboratory to the keeper and the Scottish Government
• a vet can change a herd status to BVD Negative provided that they have completed an online BVD training course and have sufficient evidence for Negative status
• all keepers of non-breeding herds must test any calves born for BVD virus within 40 days of birth

Since the introduction of the BVD eradication scheme, we have seen the level of exposure to of the disease reduce from 40% of herds having a BVD Not Negative status. Evidence suggests that exposure to BVD in the beef herd is lower than in the dairy herd.

Minimum testing methods

Keepers of breeding cattle herds in Scotland must have their herds screened every year for BVD. There are three testing options available: check testing (for exposure to BVD); all calf screening (for presence of BVD virus in the calf crop); and whole herd screen (for presence of BVD virus in the whole herd.

Your vet will be able to provide further advice about which method should be used in your case and whether it is appropriate to test for exposure (blood test for antibodies to BVD) or presence of BVD virus (tissue tag or blood test for BVD antigen/virus).

You do not have to individually test every animal in the herd to find out if BVD is present. The check test is a screening test that, if representative animals are tested, will show if the herd has been exposed to BVD. The result of the screening test will tell you and your vet whether the herd is free of BVD or whether you need to do follow-up testing to find out if there is an active BVD infection in your herd. 

Mandatory annual screening methods for breeding herds

Breeding herds must update their herd status annually using one of the following BVD screening methods:

1. The standard check-test (appropriate for breeding herds that have a distinct 'block calving' period)

Whenever possible for a check test, use option (a) below. Where this is not possible options (b) and (c) should be followed in order. All of these three tests are for antibody, and show if the herd has been exposed to BVD.

Before deciding to do a check test, speak to your vet to identify how many separately managed groups you have in your herd. Your vet will decide how many animals need to be blood tested.  The check test is very reliable, but only if every separately managed group of eligible animals is tested

a) Five calves aged 9 to 18 months

Your vet should take samples of blood from at least five calves in the age range 9 to 18 months in each separately managed group. If there are fewer than five calves in a group, then test all the calves in the group.

b) Ten calves aged 6 - 18 months

If any of your sample of calves are aged 6-9 months, then your vet should take a sample of blood from at least ten calves in the age range 6-18 months in each separately managed group. If there are fewer than ten calves in a group, then test all the calves in the group. 

Shetland only: in recognition of the successful eradication of BVD from Shetland, your vet may take blood from at least five animals in the age range 6-18 months. If there are fewer than five calves in a group, then test all the calves in the group.

c) Five over 18 months and on the holding since birth

If you have no calves in either of the above age categories, but only then, can you choose this method.  The vet should take a sample of blood from at least five animals that have been on the holding since birth in each separately managed group. 

0. The dairy check-test: for herds that calve all year round

The standard check test (option 1a, above) is appropriate for herds that have distinct block calving periods. In dairy herds that calve all year round it can be difficult to ensure that the heifer groups are surveyed properly. To ensure that exposure is detected in these herds more animals must be sampled more frequently. 

If you have a dairy herd that calves all year round, your vet should blood sample at least 10 calves between the ages of 9-18 months, the five youngest and five oldest unvaccinated cattle within each group. Before deciding to do a check test, speak to your vet to identify how many separately managed groups you have in your herd. Your vet will decide how many animals need to be blood tested.

This test must be carried out twice per year, roughly six months apart.  More than seven months apart will trigger an expired test result. If you have a dairy herd that calves in distinct seasons you can use the normal check test providing all separate groups are tested.

The number 0 has been allocated for the dairy test in order that the database can recognise that the dairy check-test has been used.

2. Calf screen - test all calves

Individually test all calves born in the herd in the past year for virus by blood or tissue sample. You can test the calves as they are born or all at once. Ear tissue tag testing (explained below) is often the preferred way to do this and is the only method, apart from 'method 3: test all animals' (detailed below) that you can do without the assistance of a vet.

3. Whole herd screen - test all animals in the herd

Individually blood or tissue sample all the animals in the herd at the time of sampling.

This is a test for virus and has the advantage that all the persistently infected (PI) animals in the herd can be identified and removed. The keeper may choose to tissue tag, in which case a vet does not need to be consulted.  If blood sampling is preferred, a vet will need to be involved.  If all the animals are negative for BVD virus this will constitute a BVD Negative herd status for that year.

This testing method is the most expensive option, but it may suit herds where e.g. BVD infection is suspected, or an immediate BVD status is required in a vaccinated herd, or herds where no other method is entirely suitable.

Ear tissue tags

Ear tissue sampling tags are designed to take a tissue sample from the ear whilst tagging the animal. The tissue is pushed into a labelled capsule when the tag is applied.  The capsule is then detached and sent to the approved laboratory as soon as possible for testing.

If you want to purchase ear tissue sampling tags, contact your usual tag supplier.  If you are sampling calves under 20 days old, you can use an official id tag to take the BVD sample: this minimises the number of tags that are applied to a calf’s ear and reduces transcription errors at the BVD testing laboratory. Management tags can also be used to take samples, but, for welfare reasons, keepers should keep the number of tags per ear to a minimum. 

If the management tag fails to take a suitable sample, repeat testing can only be done by a blood sample: this is to protect the animal’s welfare by minimising the number of tags applied.

Important welfare note on ear tagging

If you use tissue sampling tags you should minimise the number of tags applied to each animal. Applying additional ear tags can cause welfare problems for cattle.

If you decide to use tissue sampling tags, make sure you use the correct applicator – some may appear to work with other tags but fail to push the tissue sample in to the capsule.  Incorrect applicators can also apply the tag too tightly, causing pain and risking infection.

Testing options summary table

Mandatory testing methods for breeding herds with a long term 'Not Negative' status

Breeding herds that have been BVD Not Negative continuously for 15 months must undertake a Compulsory BVD Investigation (CBI) followed by a year of testing all calves. The CBI requires all animals in the herd to have a BVD status within 13 months. As soon as all animals have a BVD status and they are BVD Negative (i.e. any PIs have been removed from the herd) an Approved Vet must sign a CBI Completion Certificate and all calves born in the herd over the next 12 months must be tested for antigen (virus).

In some circumstances there is an option for the Approved Vet to certify that sufficient BVD testing has been done, provided there is no suspicion of BVD infection in the herd.  This is an alternative route to CBI completion for eligible herds. 

From 1 February 2026, herds that fail to complete the CBI in the permitted 13 month period will have their CPH (county parish holding number/'farm code') publicly listed on ScotEID.  They will also be subject to additional movement restrictions: moves on to the holding will be prohibited.  Movement licences will be available but in exceptional circumstances only, e.g. to allow the return of animals that have been away for veterinary treatment.  As soon as an approved vet has certified that the CBI has been completed the CPH will be removed from the public list and restrictions will be lifted for on-moves.  

Approved vets

Any vet can do BVD sampling, carry out a BVD investigation and give BVD advice to clients.  However, under the BVD (Scotland) Order 2019, there are some duties that are reserved to approved vets.  These are vets appointed under the Order, who have completed the official online BVD training that is provided by SRUC.  The training is free of charge for vets working in Scotland and counts towards veterinary Continuing Professional Development.  Veterinary practices should contact SRUC for an enrolment key if they do not already have one.

The online BVD training package provides a comprehensive overview of the disease and the requirements of Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme.  It is useful for all vets dealing with cattle.  

Once approved, vets can change a herd status if they have sufficient evidence that there is no BVD in the herd. This usually involves additional BVD testing, including testing of calves that are born in the 12 months following removal of a PI or suspect PI. The herd status change is made using a veterinary declaration obtained from the ScotEID Helpline.

Approved vets can also certify completion of a Compulsory BVD Investigation (CBI) when the client has done enough BVD testing to meet the requirements for Option 1 or 2 on the CBI completion certificate.  The certificate is obtained from the ScotEID Helpline.

Approved vets are asked to renew their approval periodically by repeating the online training.  This usually coincides with a change to BVD eradication scheme legislation and associated update of the training package.