BVD Eradication – Important Changes & Phase 6

Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme has been in place since 2010. Phase 6 of the eradication scheme is starting on 1 July.

Changes from July 2025

From 1 July 2025 Persistently Infected (PI) animals on a non-breeding holding –

• Must be separately housed from the first positive test.
• If a Persistently Infected (PI) animal is still present on the holding after 40 days the CPH will be listed on the PI locator on ScotEID (in line with breeding herds).

BVD sampling from birth can from 1 July 2025 be carried out using BVD management tags. However, the recommendation is that official tags are used for BVD sampling. For keepers who don’t normally tissue test calves, it is advised to have BVD management tags ordered and purchased in advance of bought in, in-calf dams giving birth.

A 40-day period is allowed after the upload of a BVD positive antigen/virus result, before ON movement restrictions are imposed.  Keepers should send samples to labs promptly, to ensure that results are uploaded to ScotEID within the 40-day period.

Changes from February 1^st 2026

Starting from 1 February 2026, further restrictions will be imposed for non-compliant compulsory BVD investigation (CBI) herds. If these herds have not completed their compulsory BVD test within 13 months, then –

• The CPH will be listed on ScotEID.
• Movement restrictions will be applied to all ON movements.

From 1 February 2026 there will also be mandatory testing of calves of dams that were pregnant when the joined the herd e.g. in calf cow. Her calf must be BVD antigen/virus tested within 40 days, and the result uploaded to ScotEID.

Untested calves cannot leave the herd without an individual BVD negative status for antigen/virus. They are assigned a BVD not negative status until tested BVD negative.

For more information relating to these changes or if you have any queries relating to your herd, please contact ScotEID or alternatively scan the QR code.