BVD in cattle means bovine viral diarrhea , a contagious viral disease that affects cattle and can also impact some other ruminants.

What it does

BVD is known for causing immune suppression , poor growth, abortion, infertility, and higher calf illness or death, rather than just diarrhea. It can show up as mild illness, severe disease, or no obvious signs at all.

Why it matters

The biggest herd problem is usually persistently infected (PI) animals, which can shed the virus for life and keep infecting others. In pregnant cows, infection can also damage the fetus and lead to lifelong infected calves.

Common control steps

  • Test and remove PI animals.
  • Vaccinate cattle as part of herd health planning.
  • Use biosecurity to reduce introduction of the virus.

BVD is one of the most important cattle diseases because it affects health, reproduction, and productivity, and control programs focus on finding and removing infection sources.