BVD and BHV-1

The Commission of the European Union (EU) has recognized the whole of Baden-Württemberg as free of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). The status 'free of BVD' is of great importance in order to guarantee the success of the control measures in the state and the level of animal health in the case of BVD. The aim is also to prevent the re-introduction of this economically significant animal disease, which causes many losses, into the country's cattle herds.

In order for a farm to maintain BVD-free status, all calves must be tested by ear punch no later than 20 days after birth. In addition, only free animals from free herds may be housed on a free farm.
For farms that lose this status, this means that animals that are to be sold to other free farms must first be tested. Animals from free holdings can be traded without testing.

We therefore ask cattle farmers in the district to collect the ear tag used to obtain the ear punch sample as early as possible (calves must be identified with two ear tags within 7 days of birth anyway) and send the sample to the STUA Aulendorf immediately. Do not wait until several samples have been collected before sending them!
If it happens that no ear punch sample is obtained when the ear tag is taken (empty sample), the STUA will inform you by post that another sample (green ear tag) must be taken.
As a precaution, please obtain a few green ear tags from the LKV so that you can immediately take a second sample by inserting the green ear tag in the event of a blank sample.
You must bear in mind that in the event of an empty sample, it can take several days to send the samples and the letter, as well as to examine the follow-up sample, and that 20 days can pass quickly.
Nothing would be more annoying than losing your status due to an unnecessary omission.