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There is still a shortage of salmonella vaccine in the country.
The word from the suppliers is that a shipment is due in at the end of the month, but there’s no guarantee of this.
The fear from the farmer’s point of view is that an outbreak will occur when the herd is out of protection.
Drying off and housing are traditionally high-risk times for an outbreak as there is extra stress involved.
By right, farmers should be vaccinating earlier in the autumn to ensure full cover for now but that’s not much help at this stage.
The other fear is that because cows are gone more than 12 months since the last vaccine, two shots will be needed this year – doubling the cost.
Residual cover
The manufacturers say there should be some residual cover and antibodies in the vaccine for up to 14 months, but the best policy is to consult your own vet as it will depend on the level of exposure on your farm.
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