IDEXX Laboratories - Test With Confidence
Hear what one cattleman says about BVDV persistent infection.

An interview with Steve Knoll of 2 Bar Angus, a cow-calf and seedstock operation in Hereford, Texas.
Click here to watch the interview.

Key things to remember about BVDV and persistent infection

A persistently infected (PI) calf is born infected and remains infected for life, shedding virus at a tremendous rate. A single PI calf can rapidly spread infection throughout a herd, leading to elevated levels of BRD, reduced gains and feed efficiency, and a multitude of reproductive problems from poor conception rates to an increase in abortions, stillborns and weak, unthrifty calves.

Fortunately, BVDV testing can protect your operation.

BVDV testing is easy and cost-effective.

With an IDEXX test, a simple ear notch or blood sample is all it takes to tell whether a calf is persistently infected with BVDV. The IDEXX BVDV Antigen Test detects PI status even in very young calves and is the only USDA-licensed ELISA test for BVDV.

Visit idexx.com/BVDV for more information about BVDV disease and testing.

 

“We made a decision to BVDV-PI test all of our cattle. We tested not only the cattle we own, but also the cattle we manage.”

“We have experience with cattle going through the feed yard and are well aware of the problems that can be encountered. That’s one of the reasons we choose to use BVDV-PI testing. When we sell our cattle, we advertise them as BVDV-PI tested. That’s got to be a plus.”

“It’s a tool that is so easy to use and gives you confidence that you are not harboring a problem. It’s very cost-effective.”

“Before I found this test, I was blaming health problems on poor nutrition or parasites.”

“I brought the BVDV-PI animal from another ranch to this one and got BVD everywhere before we figured out what the problem was. With the suppressed immune system that BVDV creates—every bug that flew over, they would get sick with it and spread it. What with aborted calves, missing a calf for a year, sick calves, medical costs, and selling at less weight but with the cost of additional feed—it was a substantial loss of dollars.”

“If you think there is any chance that you have BVDV-PI, start testing everything because BVDV-PI will hurt you.”

Stocker and Backgrounders
“We used to turn cattle out on pasture at 60 days. Now we
are turning them out at 30
days. We don’t have any
cattle still getting sick at 60 to 90 days after arrival.”

Scott & Todd Harvey –
Hydro, Oklahoma

“We always thought that there was something going on that we were not able to control. That was before we got this PI test.”

“In the last 6 months we’ve bought only one case of antibiotics. We use to buy a case every week.”

“In 2008, I lost 125 calves
and spent $66,000 on
medicine.”

Don Hayden –
Smiths Grove, Kentucky

In 2009, I lost only 18 calves and spent $28,000 on medicine. PI testing was a part of that 2009 program, and I ran about the same total number of cattle both years.”

“You just figure up that one year difference and there’s $50,000 dollars in cattle, based on a $500 calf, and a little over $30,000 dollars difference in medicine, that’s over $80,000 dollars. I’d be tickled to make $80,000 this year.”

Hear what cattlemen are saying about BVDV this season:

An interview with Rick Hrbacek, a stocker/backgrounder from Lockney, Texas, who has been testing since 2005.
Click here to watch the interview.

(recorded in 2009)

Key things to remember about BVDV and
persistent infection (PI):

A PI calf is born infected and remains infected for life, shedding virus at a tremendous rate. A single PI calf can rapidly spread infection throughout a herd.

Fortunately, BVDV testing can protect your operation from the effects of BVDV including; elevated levels of BRD, higher morbidity and mortality, and reduced gains and feed efficiency. Cow-calf herds can experience reduced conception rates, abortions, stillborn calves, calves that die early, BRD health issues and lower weaning weights.

BVDV testing is easy and cost-effective.

With the IDEXX BVDV Antigen Test, a simple ear notch or blood sample is all it takes to tell whether a calf is persistently infected with BVDV. It’s the only USDA-licensed ELISA test for BVDV.

• Accurate BVDV antigen status detection
• Provides results in 5 hours