Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is a significant drain on efficient and successful cattle production in both dairy and beef systems around the world. Several countries have achieved eradication of this disease, but always through the motivation of stakeholders who accept the benefits of eradication. These include increased cattle welfare and fitness of cattle to withstand other diseases, and decreased costs of production, the latter resulting from both decreased costs spent on managing the disease and decreased losses. This paper provides a systematic review of 31 papers, published between 1991 and 2015, that address the economic impact of BVD. Each paper takes a different approach, in either beef or dairy production or both. However with the breadth of work collated, a stakeholder engaged in BVD eradication should find an economic figure of most relevance to them. The reported economic impact ranges from £0 to £552 per cow per year (£2370 including outliers). This range represents endemic or subclinical disease situations seen in herds with stable BVD virus infection, and epidemic or severe acute situations, most often seen in naïve herds. The outcome of infection is therefore dependent on the immune status of the animal and severity of the strain. The variations in figures for the economic impact of BVD relate to these immune and pathogenicity factors, along with the variety of impacts monitored.

This paper provides a short review of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) control programmes across Europe, with a particular focus on current efforts from a stakeholder perspective. Using outputs gained from a global, virtual congress on BVD control, the theory of the journey from BVD control to possible eradication is enriched with insight from stakeholders representing the major parts of the cattle industry. Current control programmes were presented by Javier Dieguez (Galicia), Neil Shand (England), Neil Paton (Wales), Jenny Purcell (Scotland), Maria Guelbenzu (Ireland), Jörn Gethmann (Germany), and Matthias Schweizer (Switzerland).

As life suddenly changed with the introduction of the first lockdown, it soon became obvious that day-to-day farming was also being impacted. Routine veterinary visits, trips to the usual trade shows, farm discussion meetings and the like all stopped. But how could that information void be filled and, more to the point, how could communication best carry on? The FarmComm study took place in May with supplementary questions asked at the UK-Vet Healthy Herd conference.