The amount of positive bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) cases is continuing to follow a downward trajectory in Ireland.

According to Animal Health Ireland (AHI), the number of individually confirmed cases is down by more than 30% on the same timeframe as last year.

So far, there has been 352 suspect or confirmed calves with BVD in 2026, originating from 145 different herds.

This is down on the 506 cases from 171 herds recorded by July 9 of last year.

If we go back a decade to 2016, there was 5,719 suspect or confirmed cases from 2,501 herds, showing that Ireland is heading in the right direction.

Despite a 97.1% reduction between the programmes start date back in 2013 and 2025, there is still plenty of more work to be done to eradicate the disease.

But how does Ireland compare to other countries efforts?

Global BVD

BVD is estimated to cost Irish farmers approximately €102 million annually, according to AHI.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has estimated BVD to cost English farmers £61 million annually (€72 million).

If we look to the far side of the world, BVD is costing New Zealand farmers just over $150 million a year (€77 million), according to the Livestock Improvement Cooperation (LIC).

Other countries may have a lower cost, but as it stands, Ireland has less than 1% of its national herd infected with the disease.

It is estimated that 5-10% of New Zealand's national herd is infected, although no exact figures are available as testing is not compulsory.

Across the water in England, BVD is estimated to effect between 5-15% of the national herd, with testing schemes also remaining voluntary.

Scotland has reduced its BVD incidence rate to below 10% since implementing compulsory screening.

In general, mandatory testing seems to be the most effective when it comes to BVD eradication, albeit at a higher cost.

But farmers must also consider the silent costs associated with outbreaks if animals are not tested, as persistently infected animals spread the disease, impacting herd health and productivity.