From spring 2020, all farmers with a BVD (bovine viral diarrhoea) persistently infected (PI) animal must keep it separately housed with no contact with other animals.
The change is to reduce the risk to neighbouring farms and other animals within the herd. Enforcement of the new rule will be conducted through unannounced Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) inspections.
The changes come as part of the phase five of the BVD eradication scheme which came into effect earlier this month. The mandatory scheme increases restrictions on cattle herds that have evidence of disease, with the goal of protecting BVD negative herds.
The new rules means that if a farmer retains a PI animal on their holding for more than 40 days their farm will be publicly listed on ScotEID. Other changes include: