The Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC) is reminding cattle keepers to ensure they meet their BVD testing obligations ahead of this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Show rules require attending cattle to have either resided in a herd which has been tested as part of a recognised BVD eradication programme or to have been individually tested for BVD antigen with a negative result.  

Individual BVD antigen results may be obtained via blood sampling or tissue tagging. Proof of testing and negative status will be required when animals arrive at the show.

For those cattle keepers using herd status to demonstrate BVD freedom, antibody results must not be older than 12 months before the date of arrival at the show. 

Dr Hazel Wright, WVSC Centre Manager, said: “This year’s Royal Wesh Show comes just weeks after the onset of compulsory annual BVD testing in Wales.  We are now in a 12-month legislative transition period and the show could therefore be seen as a forerunner to those full blown BVD rules, including movement restrictions for not negative herds, which will begin in July 2025.

“The WVSC is therefore urging cattle keepers to make sure they know their testing responsibilities prior to attending the show.  As per the legislation, cattle keepers in Wales have until July 1 2025 to complete their compulsory annual BVD screen.  Those testing cattle for the Royal Welsh Show will therefore be one step ahead in identifying and managing any potential BVD issues within their herd and this bodes well for the daily operations of the farm business in the future.”

“In order to ensure that test result results arrive in time for the show, cattle keepers should make sure their samples arrive at the WVSC no later than a week before the show”, added Dr Wright.