Welsh cattle herds take next step to eradicate BVD

29 Jun 2026 11:12 AM

Welsh cattle keepers will benefit from healthier, more productive herds as the next phase of the industry-led Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme comes into force on 1 July 2026.

• Next phase of the industry-led programme to eradicate BVD from Wales – backed by farming unions, vets, markets and auctioneers.
• New rules from 1 July 2026 to protect cattle health, welfare and farm productivity across Wales.
• Cattle keepers with BVD Not-Negative herds must pre-movement test before moving animals off their holding.

New legislation, shaped by the BVD Cymru Steering Group, makes Wales the latest nation to commit to eliminating BVD – joining Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and much of Europe.  

Eradicating the disease will cut costs for farm businesses, improve cattle health and welfare and reduce agriculture's carbon footprint. 

What changes from 1 July 2026:  

• Cattle keepers whose herds do not hold BVD Negative status must pre-movement test animals before moving them off their holding.
• Animals can only move on a negative result, valid for 60 days. Moving a BVD-positive or persistently infected animal is an offence.
• Cattle of unknown BVD status moving onto a Welsh holding from outside Wales must be tested within 20 days of arrival. 

Keepers can now carry out pre-movement testing of young calves, and post-movement testing of all animals themselves using the ‘Tag & Test’ ear tissue sample method — reducing the need for additional vet visits and keeping compliance costs down. 

Rural Resilience and Sustainability Minister, Llyr Gruffydd, recently said: 

I recognise that BVD has a serious impact, not just on standards of animal health and welfare, but also on production including increasing costs to farm businesses.

Eradicating BVD in Wales has been identified as a priority by Welsh farmers themselves — and ridding our cattle herds of this disease will bring significant benefits to cattle health and productivity, and also to cattle welfare, farm profitability and carbon footprint. 

Our industry is on the same path as Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, along with many other European countries. I would like to express my thanks to all partners that make up the BVD Cymru Steering Group for all their hard work to enable this next step.  We will continue to listen to and work with farmers and industry, and the eradication programme will evolve, whilst keeping a clear focus on the goal of a BVD-free Wales.

Wales Chief Veterinary Officer, Richard Irvine, recently said: 

BVD is one of the most damaging endemic diseases affecting cattle in Wales – so working together to combat it is crucial.  BVD virus weakens immune systems, reduces fertility and increases the risk and impact of other diseases like pneumonia and scours. Equally, in some cases, keepers may not know BVD is present in their herd.

The next phase of the industry-led eradication programme brings in new measures, including restricting movements from not-negative holdings in Wales, and the testing of cattle with unknown BVD status from outside of Wales. Together with a focus on safe sourcing of cattle, these tools will help stop the disease spreading and speed up the removal of persistently infected animals from the national herd.

Wales has a strong foundation to build on. Annual screening has already given us a clearer picture of BVD prevalence across the country. This next phase puts that knowledge into action. I commend the ongoing work of the BVD Steering Group and Technical Advisory Group and encourage all cattle keepers to check their herd's status through EIDCymru now.