The guideline enables a best practice approach to livestock vaccination.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has released its Livestock Vaccination Guideline for on-farm use, and is reminding farmers of the crucial role of vaccination in the future of UK farming.

The guideline has been developed by NOAH to enable a best practice approach to vaccination in the livestock sector to ensure that animals are protected from disease, their health and welfare is safeguarded while they remain productive.

Current veterinary clinical experience and research was used to develop the guideline to provide veterinarians and farmers with information to plan tailored vaccination programmes for livestock, to help achieve the maximum potential of vaccination across dairy, beef and sheep sectors.

In the guideline, vaccinations are divided into two categories. Category one are high priority vaccines such as leptospirosis in dairy and beef cattle and toxoplasmosis in sheep. Category two vaccines such as lungworm in dairy and beef cattle and orf in sheep, are recommended as best practice with the flexibility to apply their use depending on farmer and veterinarian review and discussion.

A One Health approach to vaccination is considered in the guideline. It suggests that the most effective way to support responsible antibiotic use is to prevent disease, since healthy, protected animals do not require treatment.

According to research, vaccine uptake in the livestock sector has increased in the past ten years, but NOAH says there is still room for improvement.

Dawn Howard, NOAH chief executive said: "We must continue to promote the crucial role of livestock vaccination in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for animals, farmers, and consumers alike. The NOAH Livestock Vaccination Guideline aims to ensure that that we are harnessing one of the best tools for the prevention of disease and animal suffering by providing those who make decisions about animal health and vaccination across the industry and on the farm access to best practice guidance.  

“This will not only help improve health and welfare on individual farms but also help raise health and welfare levels across the whole country, meaning UK farming will be better equipped to provide safe, high-quality and nutritious food, while also delivering the environmental benefits from healthier animals.

“As well as helping ensure the vaccines we have available today are used most effectively, NOAH members are working on pioneering new vaccines for existing diseases, including those which can help against disease that may develop in the future, benefiting not only animals, but also people.”

The Livestock Vaccination Guideline for dairy, beef, and sheep sectors can be read on NOAH's website.