Good Practice based on Current Knowledge

• Find out what the herd’s IBR status is (limited blood sampling in beef herds and bulk milk sampling in dairy herds). Use your vet and/or the Premium Cattle Health Scheme or Herdcare.
• Decide on further action:
  
1. If herd is free of IBR, consider accreditation (PCHS or Herdcare) or good herd health protection (see below).
2. If the herd appears to have very few reactors, remove them and consider screening and eradication (PCHS or Herdcare).
3. If the herd appears to have too many reactors to be removed, consider other options with your vet and/or the PCHS or Herdcare.

• To prevent IBR from entering the herd:

• Implement a closed herd policy.
• If necessary, purchase replacement stock from herds certified free of IBR (i.e. accredited herds).
• Quarantine all added animals for 4 weeks and test them for IBR antibodies before inclusion into the main herd.
• Avoid direct or indirect contact with cattle from potentially infected farms (shows, markets, contact over fences, rented grazing, hired bulls, etc.). Talk to your neighbours.
• Do not allow the introduction of disease via AI technicians, vets, hoof trimmers, visitors etc. (e.g. dedicated footwear for people who enter cattle housing) and limit access to essential visitors only.
• Isolate delivery and pick-up points for trucks from cattle.