ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR ERADICATION OF BLV: REDUCING BLV INCIDENCE IN YOUNG STOCK WHILE REMOVING SUPER-SHEDDERS FROM THE MILKING HERD

Our research team hopes to continually investigate and provide management techniques that dairy and/or beef producers can use to decrease ore eliminated the presence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in their herd. Controlling BLV will make the US dairy and beef industry more sustainable and profitable in a global market where many other nations have made BLV control a priority.In this study we aim to determine the most effective approach for decreased or eradicated BLV within commercial diary herds. To do so, we will perform comprehensive whole-herd BLV prevalence profiles to assess BLV prevalence in the milking-herd combined with identification of young stock to prevent from entering the milking herd and ultimately infecting herd mates during early lactation stages.