Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Johne’s Disease, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Leptospirosis are the four most important non-statutory diseases affecting cattle in British beef and dairy herds. Co-ordinating the control of these diseases is largely managed through the not-for-profit, Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS). In this article, Tim Brigstocke, executive director of Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS) and policy director to the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF),  examines two of those diseases – Johne’s and BVD, how the industry is tackling them and some of its exemplary efforts to eradicate them.