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Sold in-calf heifer has had a BVD calf.

  • 15-07-2016 11:17AM
    #1
    conseng
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 155 ✭✭


    Looking for opinions. We sold an in calf heifer recently who since calved and the calf tested positive for BVD. The mother was bought in here, born 2013 so would have tested clear as a calf herself. My understanding is that the pregnant heifer most likely picked up the infection while pregnant and passed it to the unborn calf.

    We have a few of this years heifers yet to be put in calf. Would ye vaccinate for BVD first or carry on as normal. We only have a small herd but never had a positive result before and have not used BVD vaccines previously.


Comments

  • #2
    tanko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,367 ✭✭✭tanko


    conseng wrote: »
    Looking for opinions. We sold an in calf heifer recently who since calved and the calf tested positive for BVD. The mother was bought in here, born 2013 so would have tested clear as a calf herself. My understanding is that the pregnant heifer most likely picked up the infection while pregnant and passed it to the unborn calf.

    We have a few of this years heifers yet to be put in calf. Would ye vaccinate for BVD first or carry on as normal. We only have a small herd but never had a positive result before and have not used BVD vaccines previously.

    I'm not sure whether you should vaccinate or not. How far along in-calf was the heifer when you sold her?
    It's possible she picked it up and gave it to her calf after you sold her.


  • #3
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,503 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Isn't it early in the pregnancy they pick it up? Also was calf positive on retest and are you sure it's her calf. Not someone chancing their arm


  • #4
    conseng
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 155 ✭✭conseng


    tanko wrote: »
    I'm not sure whether you should vaccinate or not. How far along in-calf was the heifer when you sold her?
    It's possible she picked it up and gave it to her calf after you sold her.
    whelan2 wrote: »
    Isn't it early in the pregnancy they pick it up? Also was calf positive on retest and are you sure it's her calf. Not someone chancing their arm

    She was sold almost due to calf, I don't think the retest is complete yet, I might check that out, it was my father who took the call.

    My parents know the buyer, there is no "chancing" going on as they are not looking for anything. Is there increased risk of further infection I suppose I am trying to figure out.


  • #5
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,503 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    conseng wrote: »
    She was sold almost due to calf, I don't think the retest is complete yet, I might check that out, it was my father who took the call.

    My parents know the buyer, there is no "chancing" going on as they are not looking for anything. Is there increased risk of further infection I suppose I am trying to figure out.
    ye the dam and the calf will have to be tested. Do you have other farms adjoining yours, if so she could have picked up the infection off neighbouring cattle early on in her pregnancy..


  • #6
    greysides
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    conseng wrote: »
    Looking for opinions. We sold an in calf heifer recently who since calved and the calf tested positive for BVD. The mother was bought in here, born 2013 so would have tested clear as a calf herself. My understanding is that the pregnant heifer most likely picked up the infection while pregnant and passed it to the unborn calf.

    We have a few of this years heifers yet to be put in calf. Would ye vaccinate for BVD first or carry on as normal. We only have a small herd but never had a positive result before and have not used BVD vaccines previously.
    whelan2 wrote: »
    Isn't it early in the pregnancy they pick it up? Also was calf positive on retest and are you sure it's her calf.

    It is early on that BVD carriers are formed. Calves become persistently infected (PI) when their mother is exposed to the virus during the second to fourth month of pregnancy (or if the mother is PI).
    We should be able to rule out the mother itself being a PI as it would have been tested during the programme.

    Honest mistakes can happen re-identity so it's a consideration though in the circumstances probably unlikely too.

    Whether the calf tests positive or negative on retest, the first positive test almost certainly means that there has been some exposure during the time since its conception to BVD virus. That could have been on the farm it was born on. The second test is intended to rule out those infections which are transient, and not persistent.

    In terms of trying to track down the source this information may be of interest to the purchaser:

    As part of the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020, DAFM, in conjunction with the EU, are funding a Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) for farmers, delivered by trained veterinary practitioners.

    Herds that have one or more positive or inconclusive results for BVD virus in 2016 are eligible for an investigation.

    http://animalhealthireland.ie/?page_id=5009

    That won't be available to you but if it led anywhere then the results might be. It may not be possible to identify the source conclusively.

    Personally, with the breeding season ticking on, I'd be inclined to vaccinate for this year and re-assess later for next year with any new information that has come to light. Check the datasheet but the vaccine could even be used on heifers already pregnant.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



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  • #7
    conseng
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 155 ✭✭conseng


    Thanks for the replies. I suppose I am being influenced by the time of year and anxious to not delay things if not necessary. I understand that vaccination is a 2 stage procedure, 3 weeks apart, bringing me towards mid August resuming breeding which is much later than I would like.


  • #8
    greysides
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    conseng wrote: »
    T I suppose I am being influenced by the time of year and anxious to not delay things if not necessary. I understand that vaccination is a 2 stage procedure, 3 weeks apart, bringing me towards mid August resuming breeding which is much later than I would like.

    If you need to breed soon then consider starting the vaccination immediately. It's not going to be 'by the books' but will be better than nothing. Very early infection (first month of pregnancy) will cause embryonic death (animal comes back in heat) rather than producing a PI calf which effectively buys you a month.
    None of this is the ideal way to do things but a compromise. Keeping the heifers away from all possible sources of infection for the early part of gestation should help too (other cattle, your own and neighbours).

    Talk to your vet and see what they think.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • #9
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,503 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Are bvd positive herds being made public?


  • #10
    OverRide
    Closed Accounts Posts: 665 ✭✭✭OverRide


    whelan2 wrote: »
    Are bvd positive herds being made public?

    Yes,if they hold onto pi calves
    I got a letter similar to one you get if a neighbour is locked up with tb
    They're sent out from Navan


  • #11
    roosky
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,032 ✭✭✭roosky


    whelan2 wrote:
    ye the dam and the calf will have to be tested. Do you have other farms adjoining yours, if so she could have picked up the infection off neighbouring cattle early on in her pregnancy..


    If she was infected in the first 3 months she would have aborted


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  • #12
    greysides
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭greysides


    roosky wrote: »
    If she was infected in the first 3 months she would have aborted

    No. Early embryonic death initially, then changes over to PI carriers, then abortions or abnormalities and finally normal calves. There is overlap in the effects seen.

    Month 1 is embryonic death and mother repeats.

    Months 2,3 and 4 is generally the time PIs are produced.

    The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert

    The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It's to promote critical thinking.

    Adam Grant



  • #13
    invicta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 281 ✭✭invicta


    greysides wrote: »
    No. Early embryonic death initially, then changes over to PI carriers, then abortions or abnormalities and finally normal calves. There is overlap in the effects seen.

    Month 1 is embryonic death and mother repeats.

    Months 2,3 and 4 is generally the time PIs are produced.



    Spot on,Greysides,!

    From day 28 to day 80 into the gestation is the 'red' area!


  • #14
    FeelTheBern
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 435 ✭✭FeelTheBern


    greysides wrote: »
    conseng wrote: »
    T I suppose I am being influenced by the time of year and anxious to not delay things if not necessary. I understand that vaccination is a 2 stage procedure, 3 weeks apart, bringing me towards mid August resuming breeding which is much later than I would like.

    If you need to breed soon then consider starting the vaccination immediately. It's not going to be 'by the books' but will be better than nothing. Very early infection (first month of pregnancy) will cause embryonic death (animal comes back in heat) rather than producing a PI calf which effectively buys you a month.
    None of this is the ideal way to do things but a compromise. Keeping the heifers away from all possible sources of infection for the early part of gestation should help too (other cattle, your own and neighbours).

    Talk to your vet and see what they think.

    Think that's good approach. If you're concerned go ahead and vaccinate. Wouldn't be surprised though if calf tests negative on retest so was just transient positive post birth - stats say happen quite rarely but we had one few years ago.


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