Cattle and sheep vaccine use increases

Sales of vaccines for cattle in the UK have risen by 35% since 2011, with 10m doses sold in 2018, according to analysis by Kynetec.

Derek Armstrong, lead vet from AHDB, said a significant rise in vaccine use has been to protect calves against pneumonia, a condition that would otherwise require antibiotic treatment.

“Sales here have risen 35% since 2011, with two fifths of animals receiving vaccinal protection in 2018. Vaccines for IBR have also gone up 50% over the same period.”

However, the UK sheep sector has seen the highest uptake of vaccines in over six years, with almost 39m doses sold in 2018.

Dr Fiona Lovatt from the Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group said that over two-thirds of all sheep which should be vaccinated against clostridial diseases received vaccination, and over half were covered against pasteurella. Despite issues with supply, use of vaccines to protect against abortion have also risen steadily since 2013. Around 25% of hoggets are protected against toxoplasma and 40% are vaccinated for enzootic abortion.

“Further uptake could deliver significantly improved lambing percentages on-farm,” said Lovatt.

McCollum takes Foyle role

Documents filed with companies house show that the former CEO of Moy Park Janet McCollum has taken on a non-executive director role with Foyle Food Group. McCollum also holds similar roles with Glanbia Ireland and Mash Direct. See Foyle Food Group financial results on p19.

NI Poultry Industry Conference at Loughry

The biennial NI Poultry Industry Conference takes place at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus on Tuesday 29 October from 9.30am. The event is themed “opportunities and challenges in the 2020s”.

Speakers include Pilgrim’s Pride head of global live support Randy Stroud; Aviagen UK general manager Alan Thomson; British Egg Industry Council CEO Mark Williams; DAERA chief vet Robert Huey and Billy Armstrong from the Food Standards Agency.

The event costs £45 (or €50) and includes a three-course lunch. Details on registration are available at www.poultrytrust.com

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