Abstract
Since 2008, the Swiss veterinary service has been running a mandatory eradication program for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) that is focused on detecting and eliminating persistently infected (PI) animals. Detection was initially based on antigen testing from ear tag samples of the entire cattle population, followed by antigen testing of all newborn calves until 2012. Since then, bulk milk serology (dairy herds) and blood sample serology (beef herds) have been used for the surveillance of disease-free herds. From 2008 to 2012, the proportion of newborn PI calves decreased from 1.4% to less than 0.02%. However, this success was associated with substantial expenditures.The aim of this study was to conduct an economic evaluation of the BVD eradication program in the Swiss dairy sector. The situation before the start of the program (herd-level prevalence: 20%) served as a baseline scenario. Production models for three dairy farm types were used to estimate gross margins as well as net production losses and expenditures caused by BVD. The total economic benefit was estimated as the difference in disease costs between the baseline scenario and the implemented eradication program and was compared to the total eradication costs in a benefit-cost analysis. Data on the impact of BVD virus (BVDV) infection on animal health, fertility and production parameters were obtained empirically in a retrospective epidemiological case-control study in Swiss dairy herds and complemented by literature. Economic and additional production parameters were based on benchmarking data and published agricultural statistics. The eradication costs comprised the cumulative expenses for sampling and diagnostics. The economic model consisted of a stochastic simulation in @Risk for Excel with 20,000 iterations and was conducted for a time period of 14 years (2008–2021).The estimated annual financial losses in BVDV infected herds were CHF 85–89 per dairy cow and CHF 1337–2535 for an average farm, depending on the production type. The median net present value (NPV) was estimated at CHF 44.9 million (90% central range: CHF 13.4 million–69.4 million) and the break-even point to have been reached in 2015. Overall, the outcomes demonstrate that the Swiss BVD eradication program results in a net benefit for the dairy sector. These findings are relevant for planning similar BVD control programs in other countries.
Highlights
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a Pestivirus, is endemic in cattle populations worldwide, including various European countries, and causes substantial economic losses
The baseline disease costs for the Swiss dairy sector prior the start of the eradication program were estimated to be CHF 9.5 million (90% CR: CHF 6.6 million – 11.8 million)
This study presents an economic evaluation of the Swiss Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) eradication program for the dairy sector and reports estimates at the animal, farm and national level
Summary
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a Pestivirus, is endemic in cattle populations worldwide, including various European countries, and causes substantial economic losses. These losses result from decreased outputs due to reduced milk production, lower reproductive performance, reduced weight gain, increased mortality, premature culling as well as increased expenditures for veterinary services (Houe, 2003). Infections with BVDV may either lead to transiently infected or persistently infected (PI) animals, depending on the time of infection (Lanyon et al, 2014). Infected animals are generated from intrauterine infections in an early stage of gestation, are immunotolerant against BVDV, and shed large quantities of virus throughout their lives. PI animals represent the main source for spreading the virus to naïve animals
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