NEW ZEALAND | The Ministry for Primary Industries has championed a significant project to develop a modified live virus vaccine against Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD). Its focus on developing an effective immunogen that is safe to use on New Zealand farms has been a testament to the role of the Ministry and the researchers in combating this prevalent bovine disease.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard has said that a vaccine to prevent an infectious disease costing New Zealand cattle farmers more than $190 million yearly could radically improve the cows' health and boost on-farm productivity.
“Cattle infected with BVD suffer a range of symptoms, including reproductive losses, reduced growth rates and lowered milk production, with the disease ultimately leading to their death,” said Hoggard.
“This prevalent disease impacts around 80 percent of New Zealand’s dairy and beef herds. It costs our farmers more than $150 million yearly in direct production losses and $40 million in ongoing expenses from BVD control.”
New Zealand currently has three registered vaccines for BVD, with an efficacy rate of about 60 to 65 per cent. The current vaccines use the inactivated BVD virus as the immunogen. They require a two-dose initial vaccination followed by annual revaccination.
“This leaves significant room for improvement. The existing vaccines are from overseas, so this will be the first project to develop a vaccine specific to New Zealand strains of BVD. This is an opportunity for Kiwi ingenuity to shine and help protect our dairy and beef herds”.
The new vaccine, which uses a modified live virus vaccine, aims to stimulate a higher and faster immune response and will only require a single dose.
