TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The purpose of this project is to introduce and implement biosecurity planning to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of disease within the Oregon cattle industry.  Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus (BVD) has received significant attention from the private sector and academia as a disease that causes insurmountable economic loss throughout the U.S.  The economic impact has driven the industry to begin adopting premium payments for cattle sold as BVD persistently infected (PI) free.  The increased public awareness and added market value creates the opportunity to educate ranchers on biosecurity practices, using BVD as a model, with additional opportunity to increase revenue of Oregon cattle sold as BVD PI free.  The long term impact of this project on the Oregon cattle industry includes improved herd health, resulting in improved performance, marketability, profitability and improved consumer confidence of Oregon raised cattle.  It is our intent that this project will help not only control the prevalence of BVD in the state but will also impact prevalence of other diseases of concern such as trichomoniasis and paratuberculosis.

Terms and Conditions of Participation

1.  Complete OSU Biosecurity Questionnaire regarding demographics, management and performance factors. Prevalence of BVD PI can be analyzed according to these factors.   All ranches will be identified by assigning an arbitrary number, owner/operator identification will be held confidential.

2.  Participating ranches will be encouraged to create a written biosecurity plan.  These plans will enhance this project by not only reducing the risk of BVD, but will also bring awareness to transmission and perpetuation of other infectious diseases. Plans will be developed using a template and personalized according to the needs of the ranch as identified by a designated resource team. Please see sample of Biosecurity Plan.

3.  BVD PI screening should be accompanied by a sound biosecurity plan with basic requirements:

• Test all new entries into the herd
• Calves at birth or branding preferred but weaning may be acceptable
• Cows, if calf was positive PI
• Open cows or cows that lost a calf, prior to breeding if not culled
• Still born calves

4.  Participants agree positive PI animals will not be marketed.  These PI animals need to be eliminated from the herd including segregation immediately upon notification of PI status.

*It is NOT necessary to participate in BVD PI screening to participate in this project.  Creation of a biosecurity plan can be accomplished with the aid of the OSU Biosecurity Team without screening for BVD PI.  Contact the OSU Biosecurtiy Team.