THE implications of boine pestivirus and the amount it costs to the industry will be discussed at an upcoming forum in Wagga.
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Pestivirus or Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVDV) is a virus many Australian farmers have heard of, but their approach to controlling BVDV varies across eastern Australia.
Pestivirus is a virus that many recognise as being implicated in poor fertility and abortion, but it also has effects on foetal development (deformities), the immune system (immunosuppression, allowing secondary infections), and calf viability (dead or weak calves at birth).
"The virus spreads primarily through viral shedding from persistently infected (PI) animals," said Dr Alistair Smith, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University.
The mothers of PI animals have never previously been exposed to the virus and are infected in the early part of pregnancy.
Researchers have tried to evaluate the financial impact of this disease to the cattle industry, and to individual herds, and numbers vary depending on whether a herd that has never previously been exposed.
Recent anecdotal evidence gathered in discussion with producers, shows that some, despite their involvement in the cattle industry for 40 years, are unaware of the existence of this virus, its effects, and what can be done to control it.
The Graham Centre Beef Forum being held at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Convention Centre on Friday, August 15.
Register online at www.grahamcentre.net or contact Toni Nugent bfd@csu.edu.au or (02) 6933 4402.
