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

Background: Vaccination is a widely used strategy for disease control in cattle in the UK and abroad. However, there has been limited research describing the uptake and use of cattle vaccines on UK farms. Aim: To describe the current uptake and usage of cattle vaccines in the UK. Design: A questio...

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Main Authors: Cresswell, E., Brennan, Marnie L., Barkema, H.W., Wapenaar, Wendela
Format: Article
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2014
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39343/
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author Cresswell, E.
Brennan, Marnie L.
Barkema, H.W.
Wapenaar, Wendela
author_facet Cresswell, E.
Brennan, Marnie L.
Barkema, H.W.
Wapenaar, Wendela
author_sort Cresswell, E.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Vaccination is a widely used strategy for disease control in cattle in the UK and abroad. However, there has been limited research describing the uptake and use of cattle vaccines on UK farms. Aim: To describe the current uptake and usage of cattle vaccines in the UK. Design: A questionnaire, available in paper and online format, was distributed to cattle farmers by convenience sampling. Participants: All UK cattle farmers were eligible to participate in the study. Results: Eighty-six per cent of respondents (n=229/266) had vaccinated their cattle in the past year. Diseases most commonly vaccinated against were Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Leptospirosis and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis. Vaccination compliance was limited in certain areas, for example only 48 per cent of respondents stated that they administered the second dose in the primary course within the recommended timeframe, and 14 per cent of respondents stated that they vaccinated earlier than the youngest recommended age. Although outside the scope of this study, further work is needed to establish the extent of inadequate compliance and the effect this has on vaccine efficacy. The role of the veterinarian was highlighted as the main supplier of vaccines and preferred source of vaccination information. Respondents preferred to receive recommendations regarding vaccination by face-to-face communication with the veterinarian. Conclusions: The results provide a description of the current uptake and usage of cattle vaccines in the UK. Uptake is generally high but there are areas of usage of vaccines which could be improved upon. The veterinarian plays a key role as supplier of vaccines and a source of information for the majority of farmers. Although outside the scope of this study, further work is needed to establish the extent of inadequate compliance and the effect this has on vaccine efficacy. Although the respondents in this study represent a biased population of farmers, the findings indicate areas for future investigation in order to improve vaccination strategies in cattle in the UK.
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spelling nottingham-393432020-05-04T16:51:10Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39343/ A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK Cresswell, E. Brennan, Marnie L. Barkema, H.W. Wapenaar, Wendela Background: Vaccination is a widely used strategy for disease control in cattle in the UK and abroad. However, there has been limited research describing the uptake and use of cattle vaccines on UK farms. Aim: To describe the current uptake and usage of cattle vaccines in the UK. Design: A questionnaire, available in paper and online format, was distributed to cattle farmers by convenience sampling. Participants: All UK cattle farmers were eligible to participate in the study. Results: Eighty-six per cent of respondents (n=229/266) had vaccinated their cattle in the past year. Diseases most commonly vaccinated against were Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Leptospirosis and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis. Vaccination compliance was limited in certain areas, for example only 48 per cent of respondents stated that they administered the second dose in the primary course within the recommended timeframe, and 14 per cent of respondents stated that they vaccinated earlier than the youngest recommended age. Although outside the scope of this study, further work is needed to establish the extent of inadequate compliance and the effect this has on vaccine efficacy. The role of the veterinarian was highlighted as the main supplier of vaccines and preferred source of vaccination information. Respondents preferred to receive recommendations regarding vaccination by face-to-face communication with the veterinarian. Conclusions: The results provide a description of the current uptake and usage of cattle vaccines in the UK. Uptake is generally high but there are areas of usage of vaccines which could be improved upon. The veterinarian plays a key role as supplier of vaccines and a source of information for the majority of farmers. Although outside the scope of this study, further work is needed to establish the extent of inadequate compliance and the effect this has on vaccine efficacy. Although the respondents in this study represent a biased population of farmers, the findings indicate areas for future investigation in order to improve vaccination strategies in cattle in the UK. BMJ Publishing Group 2014-07-14 Article PeerReviewed Cresswell, E., Brennan, Marnie L., Barkema, H.W. and Wapenaar, Wendela (2014) A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK. Veterinary Record Open, 1 (1). e000042/1-e000042/10. ISSN 2052-6113 http://vetrecordopen.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000042 doi:10.1136/vropen-2014-000042 doi:10.1136/vropen-2014-000042
spellingShingle Cresswell, E.
Brennan, Marnie L.
Barkema, H.W.
Wapenaar, Wendela
A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title_full A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title_fullStr A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title_full_unstemmed A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title_short A questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the UK
title_sort questionnaire-based survey on the uptake and use of cattle vaccines in the uk
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39343/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39343/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39343/