A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK

Cresswell, E.; Brennan, M. L.; Barkema, H. W.; Wapenaar, W.

Eighty-six per cent (n=229/266) of respondents indicated that they had vaccinated their cattle in the past year, with more dairy farmers vaccinating compared to beef farmers (Table 3 ). The most frequent reason for not vaccinating was that they did not perceive there to be a problem that required vaccination (65 per cent). Respondents from large farms (>160 adult cattle) were more likely to have vaccinated their cattle in the past year than respondents from small farms (<81 cows) (P=0.005). The difference in vaccination uptake between small or large, versus average size farms was not significant in the χ 2 analysis. As 37 respondents indicated that they did not vaccinate (Table 3) , only a maximum of 229 respondents could complete the questions on vaccine usage. The number of total responses for each question varied, which has been indicated in relevant Tables and Figures. The highest uptake of vaccination, for dairy as well as beef, was for BVDv vaccination, and there was a noticeable difference in uptake of lungworm vaccine between dairy and beef respondents (Fig 1) . Uptake for other vaccines was: 19 per cent for rotavirus, coronavirus and Escherichia coli (Trivacton 6, Rotavec Corona and Lactovac), 9 per cent for salmonellosis (Bovivac S), 6 per cent for ringworm (Bovilis Ringvac), and 1 per cent for mastitis (Startvac).