Supply issues for some clostridial vaccines are being seen according to Farm SQP of the Year Elizabeth Barratt from Mole Country Store, who urges farmers to plan ahead.

"We are seeing supply challenges with vaccines. Although there are stocks of vaccines, I would suggest speaking with your animal health advisor about when you need to vaccinate, how many you need the vaccine for and discuss any alternative options available if you can't get your required vaccination." 

There is currently stock available of Coxexin 10, which protects sheep and cattle against the 10 main clostridial strains. It also provides passive immunity to youngstock via colostrum when pregnant animals are given a booster 2 to 8 weeks before calving and lambing. 

Ideally, Covexin 10 should be given to animals in two doses in their first grazing season 4-6 weeks apart. Then onwards, all animals should receive an annual booster. 

Covexin 10 protects against the main clostridial diseases in sheep and cattle, including, in cattle, Black Disease, Blackleg, Malignant Oedema, Tetanus, Botulism and, in sheep, Lamb Dysentery, Tetanus, Pulpy Kidney, Black Disease, Blackleg, Struck and Braxy.  

Why Vaccinate?  

The Livestock Vaccination Guidelines, published recently by The National Office for Animal Health (NOAH), categorises vaccination for clostridial diseases as one of the highest priority vaccinations for beef and sheep (Category One). 

This means herds and flocks should be vaccinated as a default unless appropriate justifications have been clearly identified by the vet and farmer working together. 

Zoetis Vet Ally Ward added: "Vaccine supply issues over the past year may mean livestock are at increased risk if vaccine boosters have been missed.  

"Whilst some supply issues remain, farmers should be able to secure what they need if they acquire their stock in good time. 

 "Death from clostridial diseases is still a reasonably common cause, which is frustrating when there are relatively cheap vaccines available to protect livestock. The first time many farmers realise there is a problem is when they find a dead animal," she warned.  

Prevalence of Clostridial Diseases  

Pulpy kidney (C Perfringens D) was the third most common cause of lamb death found in 2,733 lamb carcasses examined by Farm Post Mortems Ltd over a five-year period up to 2019¹. In the same period, Pulpy Kidney and Lamb Dysentery (Clostridium Perfringens B) were among the top seven most common diagnoses in young lambs up to seven days old submitted to Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) over the same time period¹. 

All unvaccinated livestock is at risk of clostridial diseases, with clostridia bacteria widespread in the natural world, including in soil, rotting vegetation, decomposing animal matter, surface water and spoiled animal feed. Certain types of clostridia bacteria are also present in the gut and other tissues of healthy livestock.