New CHECS “best practice” protocols to control infectious cattle disease have been released, coinciding with a step-up of pressure on tackling Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) virus across UK and Ireland.
Included in the latest version of the CHECS technical document is a new way for dairy herds to indicate low risk for BVD to their buyers following the end of the BVDFree programme, and updated risk categories for Johne’s Disease.
Practising veterinary surgeon James Russell, who is also a CHECS board member and non-executive director of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England, says CHECS disease protocols are an industry “bedrock”, and the latest update is well-timed for changes taking place in 2025.
“CHECS has been accrediting and setting industry standards for infectious cattle disease control since 1999,” says Mr Russell. “We’re unique globally, in that standards are developed through consensus by a volunteer group of veterinary and scientific specialists under the CHECS umbrella, then adopted as a single ‘best practice’ across the whole of UK and Ireland.”
He says that even if farmers aren’t part of a CHECS-accredited cattle health scheme, the chances are the laboratories testing their samples will be licensed by CHECS, and the veterinary surgeons they work with should be observing CHECS protocols too.
“All this means consistency across UK and Ireland about how insidious diseases such as BVD, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Johne’s Disease should be tackled, and how the risk of herds having those diseases is communicated.”
The updated CHECS protocols include the new Dairy BVD Negative programme based on quarterly bulk milk testing and youngstock screening. Although this is primarily aimed at farmers who were involved in the now-defunct BVDFree England scheme, it lands at a time when BVD is a particularly hot topic, with devolved and Irish control programmes ramping up action on the disease. In particular, Defra will shortly be consulting on mandating BVD control in England through its Pathway programme.
Mr Russell says the reason BVD is being targeted by governments is its high “eradicability” – and the cost benefit for farmers in doing so.
“The suppressed immunity BVD causes has been calculated to cost UK farmers up to £61 million per year; that’s £6.50 for every single bovine. In Ireland, the cost estimate is even higher at over €13/£11 per animal.
“Yet the biggest risk with BVD remains not looking for it because it hides in plain sight, amplifying cases of pneumonia or scours, and preventing animals recovering despite treatment. Hence identifying whether BVD is the underlying cause of health issues on a client’s farm is a very effective starting point for the veterinary surgeon—and cost-beneficial for the cattle farmer too.”
Meanwhile, other diseases continue to cause both economic and emotional loss for cattle keepers. Johne’s Disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), remains one of the most challenging—and the reason behind the second major change in the new CHECS protocols: the introduction of Risk Level 1*.
This development follows several years of divergence among industry experts about how risk from Johne’s Disease, which is extremely complex, can be accurately and consistently communicated.
Under the new regime, CHECS Risk Level 1 (R1) for Johne’s Disease will still be awarded to low risk herds passing three consecutive annual herd tests, whether testing faecal matter for the bacterium or an ELISA blood test for antibodies. However, R1 herds that have had no positive blood tests for more than 12 months will become Risk Level 1* (R1*), the lowest level of risk.
While the change was implemented last year, R1* status will not be published on certificates and pen cards until 1 October 2025 to allow all R1 herds an opportunity to attain the new status.
CHECS veterinary director Keith Cutler says the changes to CHECS’s Johne’s Disease risk levels are robust but very fair. “Most importantly, they will help vets and farmers more accurately gauge risk,” he says.
“Agreeing this change was a tough and lengthy process, but shows the resilience of the CHECS technical advisory group and the determination of its veterinary and scientific members to stand up for what they believe in, and for the good of those who keep cattle.
“That’s why I would urge veterinary surgeon colleagues to use CHECS protocols where they can, even if their clients aren’t participating in a CHECS-licensed cattle health scheme,” advises Mr Cutler.
The new CHECS technical document can be downloaded from the resources pages here.
