Vaccination and Immunisation for Livestock Welfare

Vaccination programmes prevent disease and reduce suffering in farm animals while decreasing antibiotic dependence.

Key Facts

Vaccines are available for many major livestock diseases including BVD, IBR, Johne's disease, and clostridial diseases
Vaccination can prevent suffering from conditions that are painful, debilitating, and often fatal
Preventive vaccination reduces the need for antibiotic treatment, addressing antimicrobial resistance
Cost-benefit analysis consistently shows vaccination is economically as well as welfare positive
Vaccine coverage rates vary enormously between farms; low coverage in a sector allows disease to persist

Welfare Considerations

Vaccination is one of the most effective tools available for preventing animal disease and the suffering it causes. Investing in comprehensive vaccination programmes prevents welfare problems before they occur, reduces antibiotic use, and improves long-term herd health. Veterinary health planning that includes vaccination assessment should be a standard farm welfare requirement.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory veterinary health planning with vaccination assessment for all livestock farms
Advocate for vaccination subsidies that increase uptake across entire production sectors
Choose products from farms that demonstrate comprehensive vaccination programmes
Support research into vaccines for currently unvaccinated livestock diseases
Promote the welfare and antibiotic stewardship benefits of vaccination to farming communities