Tissue sampling tags for BVD testing (blue vial) BVD tags provide a practical way to identify cattle while collecting a tissue sample for BVD testing at the same time. By combining tagging and sampling in one simple process, farmers can maintain accurate animal identification while supporting effective BVD monitoring and herd health management.
Shearwell BVD Tags are designed to collect a tissue sample as the tag is applied to the animal’s ear. This allows cattle to be tagged as part of the normal identification process, while simultaneously collecting a sample that can be submitted for BVD testing.
If ‘Include a BVD Test’ is ticked, the price includes one plastic bag, one addressed envelope for every 10 tags purchased and the relevant BVD laboratory paperwork. The envelopes are addressed to the BVD lab for you to return your samples in. The cost of the postage to the lab is NOT included. Additional envelopes can be purchased from Shearwell if required. When sending off your test samples, please take your envelopes to the Post Office, so they can be weighed, and the correct postage charge applied. Please note a first-class stamp is not sufficient postage and may result in non-delivery or delay.
Envelopes will be labelled with the following addresses:
England, Wales and Scotland – Healthcheck, National Milk Laboratories Ltd, 32 Kelvin Avenue, Hillington Park, Glasgow, G52 4LT
Northern Ireland – AFBI, BVD Testing, Veterinary Sciences Division, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3FH
This page was updated: 24/8/2026
† Please note that colours displayed on your monitor may appear different from the actual tag colour and that the layout previews are indicative only, designed to show relative sizes of text, fonts and position.
The previews may not be pixel-perfect! Official animal numbers will be supplied by the ministry during the tag manufacturing process - the official animal numbers shown on tag previews always start at 00001 and are intended to give an indication of the format of the tag, they are not the actual numbers that will be printed on your tags.
For incrementing Management Numbers, the numbers shown on the tag preview are the actual numbers that will be printed on your tags. The first and last tags in the run are shown so you can clearly see what the number range is.
If you would like leading zeros in your management numbers please type them into the start number box e.g. type 00001 to make sure all numbers are 5 digits long.