BVD SUPPLEMENT
LIVESTOCK MATTERS - BVD SUPPLEMENT
In less than 12 months, dairy
farming at Furslow Farm near
Callington has been transformed
for the close-knit Poad family, with
feelings of despair being replaced
with a new level of optimism that
none would have thought possible
back in the autumn of 2013.
It is now known that Bovine Viral
Diarrhoea (BVD) was the main cause
of crippling calf mortality rates and
quite likely also lay behind sub-optimal
fertility in the milking herd and a
depression in milking performance – all
problems that had built up over several
years despite the best efforts of all
those involved.
Changing the farm vet has been the
catalyst for a dramatic improvement,
with Calweton Vets of Callington –
members of the XLVets organisation -
providing the required specialist
knowledge and impetus to address
the longstanding herd health issues.
“BVD was first suggested as a possible
problem by our nutritionists Isobelle
Delbridge and Dave Hinkins,” recalls
Steve Poad. “At around the same time I
heard Stuart Gough from Calweton
speaking at a meeting and realised we
could benefit from the specialist
knowledge that the practice was
able to offer.
“We initially blood-tested all the cows
but surprisingly found no BVD. It was
only through subsequent tissue testing
of the youngstock that we identified
a number of possible PIs (persistently
infected) animals, several of which
were then confirmed with a follow-up
blood test.
“Having established BVD was
circulating in the herd, our strategy
has been to identify and cull all PIs,
therefore allowing an effective
vaccination programme to be
put in place.”
Eradication of BVD is part of a broader
herd health improvement plan that
Stuart Gough and assistant Sarah
Caldwell has overseen at Furslow Farm
since Calweton first became involved
from November 2013. Now, with
fortnightly fertility visits creating the
opportunity for frequent surveillance
and consultation, the vets have
become an integrated part of what
is a concerted team effort to turn
the business around.
The on-farm team includes Steve’s son
Ben, who – with the able assistance of
two younger sisters Rosie and Cassie –
has responsibility for the calf rearing
unit. Needless to say, with calf health
the most obvious focal point of the
farm’s problems, he was feeling as
much pressure as anyone when
things were not going well.
“It was a demoralising experience,
because however hard we tried to
do the job right we continued to see
problems,” recalls Ben. “Young calves
seemed so susceptible to scours or
pneumonia and at their worst our
losses were 25 - 30%.
“We now know that PI calves were
being born into the unit and would
have easily spread BVD to other calves.
When calves are infected with BVD
BVD ERADICATION CHANGES
FORTUNES FOR FAMILY DAIRY FARM
Ben Poad (right) with Sarah Caldwell of
Calweton Vets and a robust and healthy calf.
Calweton Vets
