My BVD-PI test results came back

Last week I tested my first ever batch of calves for BVD-PI and the results are in...they're all PI free!!!

Has anyone else jumped on the bandwagon and tested for it?

We tested our whole herd last year!
The first time we had like 10 out of 50 come back positive, I was devistated and then I did some research and learned that the test that the ODA used was not very acurate, I then used a company out of Oregon and everything came back negitive and we now just test anything new that comes into the herd.

But talk about freaking out

I haven't done any testing for that before but I think I may start.  I have noticed a lot of progressive breeders doing this.

I have been testing my calves for about 7 years now. Test your cows first and your calves then after that you just have to test the calves. I had to start when I bought a yearling bull from a big time bull sale in Iowa and he brought it back to my heard. I lost half of my heard to him.

Testing the herd is the next step. I did testing because I want to be a progressive breeder and I do believe that BVD-PI is a serious problem. Working Ranch magazine had a great article about it in this month's issue. I hope that testing becomes necessary like for brucellosis or TB and definitely from now on I will expect any purchased stock to be tested. That's the key though, is customers have to start demanding the test.

I had some PI calves 10 years ago, TRAIN WRECK!!!  I have tested every cow on the farm, and every single replacement hfr. ever since! Its worth the cost and hassle. If you've ever had to deal with PI, You'll understand.

What are the typical costs associated with this?

http://www.animalprofiling.com/docs/product_bvd_shipping.pdf

This is the company we used the second time,
The test is simple just take a ear notch put in tube and mail.

It is vital that you disinfect the notchers after each animal.

I wish I could remember the test the ODA did b/c you want to avoid it b/c it was testing positive b/c the animals had recently been vaccinated for BVD with live vaccine.

The test this company does looks for the amount of BVD, b/c a PI positive will be shedding loads of it.

I got my tests back on 2 cows that I had abort.  1 had a BVD score of 512, the other 2048.  The IBR was both >=256.  My vet says that I can vaccinate out of this using a live vaccine.  Anybody's thoughts on that?

check this out:

http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/full/86/8/1917?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bvd&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT


little different take on the BVD-PI issue

simtal said:

check this out:

http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/full/86/8/1917?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bvd&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT


little different take on the BVD-PI issue

Click to expand...

That study discredits everything the beef publications are saying. Makes you wonder where everyone gets their information from.

some of you people are on university websites.  what does the publication say?

you can't get rid of BVD-P-I you have to sell them to salter. If you send them to a sale barn you need to inform them of the BVD so some one don't buy them and take it back to there heard. If you have ever had it you will understand you don't want anybody else to go through that. We test everything that comes on the place now unless they have been tested or comes from a Free heard.

I watched Cattlemen to Cattlemen and it said that PI calves should be euthanized and cows sent straight to slaughter.

Yep That's what we had to do. I cried :'( Some of the calves looked fine and others where deformed.

from the abstract:
"The results from this study suggest that exposing previously vaccinated, freshly weaned, transport- stressed beef calves to a calf that is persistently
infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus has little, if any, marked effects on health, performance, or carcass characteristics. "

We have tested all of the calves for the last two years.  State law indicates that any cattle used for exhiitions or shows of any kind must be negative for BVD.  Our vet takes ear notches and then they are sent to the state lab, cost is $10 per test.

you can get it cheaper from different labs if you do it yourself your looking at around 1.50 to 2.50 a head depending on how many tests you have.

  OK I haven't went to the links posted up regarding this topic, But what are the benefits of testing for this? Why wouldn't your herd develop natural immunity to this beings it is a virus. I have had BVD outbreaks in feeders about 30 years ago and what are we vaccinating for this disease if it's not doing us any good. We don't need gov't regulation for this deal. If any of you have ever had to test all of your cows for bangs over the years and have had false positives caused by calfhood vac. I think that you would agree. JMO, and it won't be popular with some, but can you say red tape & fund raiser? Kinda like having to have a law that makes you wear a seat belt. AHH!, That feels better.
  Lana, could you please try to sell me on a gov't regulated program, or please sound in on this one. I could be missing something here, but I just don't think we need more rules and regs. for a virus caused problem. Brent

benefits of testing is that you do get hire prices on your feeder calve if you can stay bvd- PI free. I think it's worse then Tich. I wish every breeder that sells bulls and heifers/ cows should have to test them.