There should be no shortage of the vaccine which protects against leptospirosis in cows next year, the Department of Agriculture has assured farmers.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that often leads to reduced milk production, decreased fertility and abortions in cows.

This year, a gap presented itself in the market when MSD Animal Health announced that it was discontinuing the production of its lepto vaccine, Bovilis Leptavoid-H. As a result, the vaccine went into extremely short supply, with farmers finding it hard to get their hands on it.

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However, two products are currently on the market for 2026 – Spirovac manufactured by Zoetis and Biobos L6 from Animal Health Distributors.

The latter is available under special import licence granted by the Department of Agriculture.

“Last year there was a big problem with salmonella and lepto vaccines and there was quite significant concern among the farming community,” according to senior superintending veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture Caroline Garvan.

“We now have two products available on the market. As far as we know there is no shortage.

“Our understanding at the moment is that there should not be a shortage in 2026.

“But we do need to keep monitoring this and we really rely on information on the ground,” Caroline Garvan had said.

Other shortages

The Department is urging farmers and vets to report any veterinary medicine shortages so that they can bring similar products that are licenced in another member state in on a special import licence.

Any concerns around shortages should be emailed to vetmedshortages@agriculture.gov.ie.