MSD Animal Health has launched a white paper "Time to Vaccinate - Looking Beyond Antibiotics" to encourage livestock farmers to adopt preventative strategies to keep animals healthy.

The paper is a collaboration between leading independent animal health experts which provides a comprehensive analysis of the scientific evidence in favour of preventative healthcare, including the use of vaccination, to help reduce the use of antibiotics. Vaccination rates in the cattle, sheep and pig sectors are currently low.

Dr Paul Williams, from MSD Animal Health explained: "Antimicrobial resistance has been widely highlighted as one of the urgent problems of our time. Alongside the medical profession, livestock farming has a part to play in curtailing the speed at which resistant microorganisms develop. The farming community is working hard to find more effective ways to reduce disease without compromising animal welfare, and in turn increasing productivity.

"To do this, the industry must focus on disease prevention, not disease treatment. This is achieved through high standards of biosecurity to reduce disease entering farms, good management, husbandry and hygiene practices and the focus of this paper - vaccination.

"The success of vaccination in preventing disease has significant potential to reduce antibiotic use, as has already been well demonstrated in the pig, poultry and aquaculture industries."

Market round-up

United Auctions sold 370 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 251.8p per kg and an average of 204.9p (+8.8p on the week), while 370 store beef-bred bullocks peaked at 248.6p and levelled at 212.7p (+2.1p). Sixty-eight store B&W bullocks sold to 152.3p and averaged 135.9p (-5.2p).

C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold six prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 227p and an average of 189p, while a prime bullock fetched 192p.

In the rough ring 71 beef cows sold to 165p and averaged 122p, while 76 dairy cows peaked at 132p and levelled at 96p.

There were also 763 prime lambs that sold to £85 per head and 184p per kg to average 168p (+4p).

A nice show of 504 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £124.50 for Texels and average £66, while light/export-type ewes peaked at £81.50 for a Cheviot and levelled at £46.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1,154 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £90 and 214.3p to average 162.2p (-1.1p).

The firm also had 370 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £127 for a pen of Suffolks and averaged £67.43, while light ewes peaked at £58 for Blackfaces and levelled at £38.49.