Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important viral pathogen in dairy cattle that causes production loss due to its negative impact on animal health. The study aimed to determine the herd-level prevalence of BVDV antibodies and associated risk factors in bulk milk from smallholder dairy farms in Indonesia. Data were collected from 118 smallholder dairy farmers affiliated with a single dairy cooperative in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Risk factor data were collected through interviews with farmers, while BVDV herd status was determined by detecting antibodies in bulk milk samples. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to identify risk factors associated with herd-level BVDV antibody positivity. A high herd prevalence of 68% was observed. In the final multivariable model, two variables were significantly associated with BVDV antibody positivity. Farmers in the youngest age group (20–32 years old) had the highest odds for being BVDV antibody-positive compared to those in the oldest age group (53–79 years old). Farms receiving animal health training two to three times per year had lower odds of BVDV antibody positivity than farms receiving four or more trainings annually. These factors were associated with differences in management practices, particularly more frequent calf separation and less frequent cattle purchasing. The high prevalence of BVDV antibodies in this population of smallholder dairy farms highlights the need for targeted surveillance and control strategies. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for developing targeted BVDV control strategies in smallholder dairy farming systems.
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Wismandanu et al. (2026) studied this question.