Vaccine uptake report for cattle and sheep

Farmers and stock keepers play a major role in ensuring that medicines are used responsibly. Monitoring vaccine uptake is a key element of this. We collate and publish vaccine uptake data for the sheep and cattle sectors on an annual basis.

The sheep and beef sectors are committed to monitoring the sales of vaccines within their targets. It is important to use vaccines alongside other medicines appropriately and to discuss with your vet what is applicable to use on your farm. Many factors contribute to fluctuations in vaccine sales, including changes in the dose regimes along with manufacturing and supply issues. Sales from wholesalers do not necessarily equate to use in that year. However, it is still a useful measure of the likely level of protection in the target group.

The number of doses of cattle vaccines sold annually rose by 20.6% between 2011 and 2023.

The number of doses of sheep vaccines sold annually rose by 13.9% between 2011 and 2022, falling back to a three-year low of 3.4% in 2023.  

 The uptake of footrot vaccines rose by 64.9%, and the uptake of vaccines for Toxoplasma rose by 11.7% and for EAE rose by 6.6% between 2012 and 2023.