Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is a member of the family Rhabdoviridae, which is an enveloped virus with a bullet-shaped morphology. The virion contains a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome. The anti-genome encodes five structural proteins, including nucleoprotein, phosphoprotein, matrix, glycoprotein, and polymerase. Genetic analysis of ectodomain of the glycoprotein gene classifies BEFV into four lineages, which are Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. BEFV is a causative agent of 3-day sickness or bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), an arthropod-borne disease of cattle and water buffalo. The disease is characterized by acute high fever, muscle stiffness, and lameness of the legs. BEF has high morbidity but low mortality; however, case fatality rates may be high. High-health animals in good condition are severely affected by the virus. Economic loss is due to a marked decrease in milk production of cows and loss of condition in meat cattle. Sick animals usually recover from illness within a few days. This disease is preventable by vaccination and quarantine of the introduced animals in an insect-free facility.