Vaccine uptake report for cattle and sheep

Farmers and stockpeople 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 cattle 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.

Due to the severity of veterinary vaccine supply shortages over the last few years, in September 2025 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) published a Statement of Intent outlining a framework to tackle this issue.

The number of doses of cattle vaccines sold annually rose by 24% overall between 2011 and 2024.

The greatest rise in uptake was seen in IBR vaccination, with estimated uptake increasing by 88% from 2011 to 2024.

However, the estimated uptake for BVD vaccination has fallen by 18% in the same period. 

The number of doses of sheep vaccines sold annually continued to fall in 2024 compared to 2023.

Fewer vaccine doses were sold in 2024 than in 2012, for the first time since 2014. This is largely due to a sharp decline in enzootic abortion vaccine availability in 2024.

Bucking the trend, the estimated uptake for footrot vaccination rose by 53% between 2012 and 2024.

The estimated uptake for toxoplasmosis vaccination also rose by 2% between 2012 and 2024.