October 5,  2020

Boehringer Ingelheim: New study shows vaccination leads to increased milk production

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced that cattle producers can confidently use its live double deleted BVDV (bovine viral diarrhea virus) vaccine Bovela^® to control BVD.

Results from the ADVANCE study, conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim in Europe and published in PLOS One2, a peer-reviewed publication, demonstrate that cows vaccinated with Bovela^® produce more milk than non-vaccinated herd mates.

The study changes the perception of BVD's impact on dairy farming. According to the study:

- BVD not only causes poor fertility but also a significant loss in production, even in environments where animals are assumed to have protection due to previous exposure to the disease;

- Cows vaccinated with Bovela^® produce more milk than the non-vaccinated cows, even in herds with endemic BVD;

- The economic benefit of vaccinating with Bovela^® on milk production is up to €63 (US$74.02) per cow per lactation.

In order to demonstrate additional benefits of Bovela^®, Boehringer Ingelheim's team investigated the effect of vaccination on milk production in commercial dairy herds infected with BVD.

"BVD is one of the most important diseases affecting cattle. It has a profound negative impact on both animal health and farm profitability," said Dr. Gerald Behrens, head of global strategic marketing (ruminants) at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. "At Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, we are committed to continuing the fight against BVD. The ADVANCE study literally advances our scientific understanding of this complex disease and reassures our veterinarians and farmers that, in selecting Bovela^®, they are getting additional benefits."

Furthermore, the findings of ADVANCE could be an additional consideration for the cost-benefit analyses of BVD control programmes. Milk production losses are important components of economic losses due to BVD and may not be obvious.

The ADVANCE study is the largest peer-reviewed cattle trial in Europe, according to Boehringer Ingelheim.

It was performed across three major EU countries, namely, France, Italy and the United Kingdom and obtained data from 1,197 animals representing 1,559 lactations.

- Boehringer Ingelheim