FARMnewsTHE NEWSLETTER OF WILLOWS FARM ANIMAL VETERINARY PRACTICE

DECEMBER 2019

As news is announced that in the past four years, sales of farm animal antibiotics have reduced by 53% and sales of Critically Important Antibiotics have dropped by 68% over the same period, Charlie Moss McCrory looks at this topic and examines how we can maintain momentum as an industry to capitalise on our success so far.As one of the leading farm animal practices in Cheshire and part of one of the largest veterinary corporate groups in the UK, we recognise the need to promote and advise upon appropriate antimicrobial stewardship. The recent report released by the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) gives us an update on how the farm animal industry is progressing with sale of and resistance to antibiotics.

INDUSTRY-WIDE REDUCTIONSThe report, assessing data up to 2018, shows sales of antibiotics for all food-producing animals has dropped by 9% between 2017-2018 and within this, the highest priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs) has fallen 18% in the same period. This continues a trend seen over the last few years of decreasing use that translates to 53% reduction of all antibiotics and a staggering 68% of HP-CIAs between 2014-2018. The significant reduction seen in the last four years puts the UK as the lowest user if antibiotics amongst EU countries with significant livestock farming.

DAIRY DECREASEWithin the dairy industry antimicrobial usage initially appears to have increased on a per tonne basis between 2017-2018, however this is largely considered to be as a result of an industry wide movement away from HP-CIAs with lower priority drugs generally using larger volumes per treatment. The reduction in 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, a type of HP-CIA, amounts to 50% in one year alone which strongly demonstrates the industry’s commitment to reducing the use of these products.

VET CONTACT NUMBERS

MARK PROCTOR 07831 548 416

SIMON JONES 07974 702 449

BEN PEDLEY 07974 072 453JONNY DUNCAN 07960 956 996

LAURENCE ALLWOOD 07961 820 115

EDWARD J-LOVEDAY 07539 641 393

GETHIN EDWARDS 07795 574 629

PHILLIP JONES 07471 039 002SARAH WHITTICK 07392 872 242

SAM BOWKER 07880 199 612

TOM O’SHEA BROWN 07393 463 729

HANNAH WILLIAMS 07464 481 268

CHARLIE MOSS-McCRORY 07384 831 484ANDY HAYTON

07894 606 615ISOBEL JOHNSON 07989 659 993

CAROLINE WILLIAMS 07968 749 141DAN ROBERTSON 07790 910 523

ELEANOR RAWSON 07974 945 422SETH KENNARD 07968 817 979

SALLY DIXON 07393 012 849

Antibiotic resistance and use UPDATE

continued...

Weston Christmas Lights DisplayOnce again, we are delighted to be involved with the Weston Christmas

Lights Display organised by Graham Witter in memory of his sister Jessica.

The event is a great community event which raises money for The Donna Louise Centre in Staffordshire. In the last year Graham and his team have raised over £92,310 for the centre.

Graham transforms his family home, farm buildings and garden into a magical winter wonderland with amazing light effects.This year the event runs from 1st - 28th December from 6.15pm until 9.00pm.

Santa visits every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening and on the last few days before Christmas.

Attractions include • Santa’s sleigh selfie • Santa’s workshop • Vintage vanMince pies, sweets and chocolate • Festive ice cream • Amazing light display

Entry is by donation and the venue is Carters Green Farm, Jack Lane, Weston CW2 5LE.Please take your family along for a magical evening and help to beat last year’s amazing total of £26,760

The significant reduction in use of antibiotics within dairies is expected to help reduce development of resistance in bacteria. Mastitis pathogens such as E.coli and S.uberis have shown only mild fluctuations in resistance to a number of antibiotics between 2016-2018, rather than a regular increase in resistance. Maintaining susceptibility of pathogens to low priority antibiotics is crucial in order to ensure we can still fight disease on farm.

REDUCTION IN BEEFAntibiotic use has also decreased within the beef industry, with a 7% reduction in total use between 2017-2018. The use of HP-CIAs has decreased an impressive 73% between 2015-2018 and now these types of drugs only account for 1% of all antibiotic used in beef animals. Though this data has been taken from a relatively small population it is largely indicative of responsible use.Currently no data is available for antibiotic use in sheep, though as a practice we have seen a large uptake in vaccination over blanket use of antibiotics. As this data becomes available we expect it to mirror the reductions seen in the beef sector.

KEEPING USE DOWN As a team we are able to advise you on additional methods to aid reduction of antibiotic usage on farm. There are many ways in which this can be achieve including vaccination,

improvements to housing, milking routine, dry cow therapy, calving practice and other preventative treatments, though these recommendations will be unique to each farm. We encourage all our clients to engage in reducing antibiotic use and adopt a ‘prevention over cure’ strategy.To conclude, it is clear that the UK farm animal industry is making excellent progress towards reducing antimicrobial usage and therefore antimicrobial resistance, however we still have a responsibility to continue to improve, to ensure that antimicrobials remain sustainable for animals and for humans. If you have any questions about what we can do on your farm, get in touch with one of the team!

OPENING HOURS over the CHRISTMAS PERIOD 2019

HARTFORD HAMPTON MOLD BAH BIDDULPH

24/12/2019 8-2 8-4 8-2 8-1 8-12

25/12/2019 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

26/12/2019 9-12 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

27/12/2019 8-6 8-5 CLOSED 8.30-5 8-5

28/12/2019 8-1 8-1 CLOSED 9-1 12-1

29/12/2019 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

30/12/2019 8-6 8-5 8-5 8.30-5 8-5

31/12/2019 8-5 8-5 8.30-5 8.30-5 8-12

01/01/2020 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

CAN FARMERS PLEASE CALL IN THE MORNING TO ORDER DRUGS

FOR COLLECTION WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

We wish all our clients a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Continued...

NFU Briefing

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither the NFU nor the author can accept liability for errors and or omissions. © NFUDepartment Name/NFU Briefing/Sept ’11/draft

The voice of British farming

Page 1

Circulation: Date: October 2019

Contact: tb.queries@nfu.org.uk

On 11th October 2019 the Downs report, ‘Assessing effects from the first four years of industry-led badger culling in England on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, 2013 – 2017 (Downs et al)’ was published in the Nature Scientific Reports journal.

The report ….• Outlines the effects of culling after the four-year intensive cull period in

Gloucester and Somerset.

• Outlines the effects of culling after two years in Dorset with the four-yearintensive cull data not being currently available.

• Tested for differences within cull areas and in a 2km buffer zone aroundthe edge of each area.

• Compares the rate of new breakdowns in these cull areas, to rates incomparison areas which are not culling (comparison areas were still within the High-Risk Area andsimilar to cull areas in relation to factors relating to TB risk.

Results The report concluded that in Gloucestershire there was a66% reduction and in Somerset a 37% reduction in TB incidence rates after the four-year intensive cull.

In the buffer zone (2km ring outside a cull), there was a 36% reduction in the number of new breakdowns in the buffer zone surrounding Gloucester however, no change was observed in the buffer zone surrounding the Somerset cull area.

In Dorset, after two years of culling there was no change in the number of new TB breakdowns in the cull zone, however there was a 55% reduction in the 2km buffer zone.

Overall, the report provides scientific evidence that the industry-led badger cull is resulting in significant reductions in the number of new TB breakdowns. It highlights the importance of culling in order to control the disease in both badgers and cattle.

The results published in this report, improve on those of the Randomised Bader Culling Trial (RBCT), where areas of equal size (100km2) were randomly allocated to either cull or not to cull. In this trial, a 23% reduction in the number of new TB breakdowns was associated with culling inside the areas. There was however an increase in disease in the buffer zone which soon disappeared.

NFU Briefing

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither the NFU nor the author can accept liability for errors and or omissions. © NFUDepartment Name/NFU Briefing/Sept ’11/draft

The voice of British farming

Page 1

Circulation: Date: October 2019

Contact: tb.queries@nfu.org.uk

On 11th October 2019 the Downs report, ‘Assessing effects from the first four years of industry-led badger culling in England on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, 2013 – 2017 (Downs et al)’ was published in the Nature Scientific Reports journal.

The report ….• Outlines the effects of culling after the four-year intensive cull period in

Gloucester and Somerset.

• Outlines the effects of culling after two years in Dorset with the four-yearintensive cull data not being currently available.

• Tested for differences within cull areas and in a 2km buffer zone aroundthe edge of each area.

• Compares the rate of new breakdowns in these cull areas, to rates incomparison areas which are not culling (comparison areas were still within the High-Risk Area andsimilar to cull areas in relation to factors relating to TB risk.

Results The report concluded that in Gloucestershire there was a66% reduction and in Somerset a 37% reduction in TB incidence rates after the four-year intensive cull.

In the buffer zone (2km ring outside a cull), there was a 36% reduction in the number of new breakdowns in the buffer zone surrounding Gloucester however, no change was observed in the buffer zone surrounding the Somerset cull area.

In Dorset, after two years of culling there was no change in the number of new TB breakdowns in the cull zone, however there was a 55% reduction in the 2km buffer zone.

Overall, the report provides scientific evidence that the industry-led badger cull is resulting in significant reductions in the number of new TB breakdowns. It highlights the importance of culling in order to control the disease in both badgers and cattle.

The results published in this report, improve on those of the Randomised Bader Culling Trial (RBCT), where areas of equal size (100km2) were randomly allocated to either cull or not to cull. In this trial, a 23% reduction in the number of new TB breakdowns was associated with culling inside the areas. There was however an increase in disease in the buffer zone which soon disappeared.

Badger culling proven to reduce bTB in cattleNew research, peer reviewed

(Reference: NFU October 2019 briefing)

CONCLUSIONS

NFU Briefing

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither the NFU nor the author can accept liability for errors and or omissions. © NFUDepartment Name/NFU Briefing/Sept ’11/draft

The voice of British farming

Page 2

Raw Data Analysis

Badger control licences now cover 57% of the High-Risk Area (HRA) and are contributing to a significant reduction in the number of new TB incidents. There has been a decline of 19% from 3,325 to 2,692, shown in the adjacent table, since culling began in 2013. Likewise, the number of herds under restriction has also declined by 17.2% from 2,903 to 2,303 since 2013.

Gloucestershire & Somerset

In 2013, the first two badger control licences were granted by Natural England in Gloucestershire and Somerset. The results published (right) in the Bovine TB in cattle: monitoring report in September 2018, show at the end of the licensed four-year badger cull, the rate of new confirmed breakdowns in Gloucestershire reduced from 10.4% before culling, to 5.6% after culling and 24.4% to 12% after culling in Somerset. Therefore, both areas achieved a 50% reduction in the number of new herd breakdowns and had significant benefits from a 4-year badger control licence.

What causes on farm breakdowns

The 2017 TB Epidemiology Report included a summary of the source of infection for all TB incidents that started in 2017 within the HRA.

To collect this data, APHA produce finalised ‘Disease Report Forms’ for one in three breakdowns.

The results concluded that badgers constituted 62% of the source attribution, while cattle movements accounted for 14%. These results provide further evidence that by controlling the badger population, the number of new TB breakdowns can be minimised.

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Num

ber o

f Her

ds

Year

High Risk Area Reduction Statistics

New TB Breakdowns Herds Under Restriction

Gloucestershire

Somerset

62%14%

7%

3%

8%4%

HRA Source Attribution

Badger

Cattle Movement

Residual Infection

Contigious Infection

Other Wildlife Source

Other or UnknownSource

(Reference: NFU October 2019 briefing)

NFU Briefing

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither the NFU nor the author can accept liability for errors and or omissions. © NFUDepartment Name/NFU Briefing/Sept ’11/draft

The voice of British farming

Page 3

TB in Cull Counties

The tables below show the reduction in new TB incidents and herds under restriction for cull counties which have had badger control licenses issued.

The number of new TB incidents has declined 33% in Gloucestershire as a county where there are now 4 licences, 26% in Somerset where there are 4 licences, 26% in Cornwall with 4 licences, 22% in Devonwith 13 licences and 12% in Wilshire where there are 5 licences. Each county started culling in the year shown below with further licences issued in subsequent years.

Additionally, the number of herds under restriction has declined by 39% in Gloucestershire,27% in Somerset, 26% in Cornwall, 14% in Devon and 8% in Wiltshire.

Although there has been the introduction of Gamma testing in cull areas, this test is not used to find new breakdowns; it can mean that herds are under restrictions for longer though. These statistics demonstrate that the control programme plays a large part in reducing the transmission of TB between badgers and cattle and overall levels of TB in cattle.

Area: Glouc Somerset Cornwall Devon Wiltshire

First Licence Granted: 2013 2013 2016 2016 2017

0100200300400500600700800900

Gloucestershire Somerset Cornwall Devon Wiltshire

Num

ber o

f New

TB

Incid

ents

County

New TB Incidents - 2013 - 2019

June 2013 June 2014 June 2015 June 2016 June 2017 June 2018 June 2019

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Gloucestershire Somerset Cornwall Devon WiltshireNum

ber o

f Her

ds U

nder

Res

trct

ion

County

Herds Under Restriction - 2013 - 2019

June 2013 June 2014 June 2015 June 2016 June 2017 June 2018 June 2019

(Reference: NFU October 2019 briefing)

Don’t forget that we are able to offer you free visits to give advice on TB control and how you can manage your particular situation with TB - please call the

practice at Hartford on 01606 723200 to book a visit.

HARTFORD OFFICE267 Chester Road,

Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1LPTel: 01606 723200

MOLD OFFICEUnit 16, Mold Business Park,

Wrexham Road, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1XP

HAMPTON VETSPost Office Lane, Hampton Heath,

Malpas SY14 8JQ

MANOR COURT VETSChurch St, Tarvin, Chester,

Cheshire CH3 8EB

CHARTER FARM VETS51 Congleton Road, Biddulph ST8 6EF

www.hamptonvetcentre.co.uk

HAMPTONFARM ANIMALVETERINARY CENTRE

www.manorcourtvets.co.uk

MANOR COURTVETERINARYCENTRE

HOW TO USEBOVILIS® INTRANASAL RSP™ LIVEYou have been prescribed Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live for your cattle, a live intranasal vaccine used for the active immunisation of calves to reduce clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with BRSV and Pi3 – the main viral causes of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).1

Please read the following user information for proper vaccine application:

Age of use: For calves 1 week of age and over.

Onset and duration of protection: Shown to be protective against BRSV and Pi3 5 and 7 days after administration (respectively). Protection lasts for 12 weeks.

Dosage and administration: 2ml reconstituted vaccine to be given intranasally per animal (1ml in each nostril). A spraying device is not required. Use within 6 hours of reconstitution.

Reconstitution: Transfer the solvent to the vial with the lyophilisate (2ml for the 1 dose, 10ml for the 5 dose and 20ml for the 10 dose) using a needle and syringe. The vacuum in the vaccine vial will allow quick emptying of the syringe. Then re-suspend by shaking. The vaccine suspension can be drawn up in a syringe with a clean tip. Ensure that the lyophilisate is completely reconstituted before use.

Storage: Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze. Protect from light.

Withdrawal period: Zero days.

BE FIRST BE FAST

BE FIRST ON THE ROAD TO HIGH PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH IMMUNITY-LED PREVENTIONBRD is one of the most common and costly diseases in young calves, having a long-term impact on lifetime productivity in both dairy and beef systems.2,3,4

Help to protect your stock from BRD related production losses by maximising their immunity through good colostrum management and vaccination.

BOVILIS INTRANASAL RSP LIVENO OTHER BRD VACCINE PROTECTS EARLIER OR FASTER

BE FIRST

BE FAST

ADMINISTRATIONFLEXIBILITY

Administered from 1 week of age – the earliest on-farm application.

Immunity to BRSV and Pi3 gained just 5 and 7 days after application (respectively) which lasts for 12 weeks – the fastest on-farm protection.

Can be administered using a syringe or applicator device. INtranasal RSP™ applicator has been developed to support quick and easy nozzle change allowing for fast, convenient vaccine delivery.

Can be used up to 6 hours after reconstitution – the longest of all intranasal BRD vaccines.

References: 1. APHA Cattle Disease Surveillance Dashboard, Pneumonia Pathogens Recorded 2012-2017. 2. Dunn T. et al. (2018) The effect of lung consolidation, as determined by ultrasonography on first-lactation milk production in Holstein dairy calves, J. Dairy Sci., 101: 1-7. 3. Delabouglise A. et al. (2017) Linking disease epidemiology and livestock productivity: The case of bovine respiratory disease in France. PLoS ONE 12(12). 4. Bareille N. et al. (2008) Impact of respiratory disorders in young bulls during their fattening period on performance and profitability, Renc Rech Ruminants. 15.

Bovilis® INtranasal RSP™ Live contains live BRSV and Pi3 for the active immunisation of calves to reduce clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with BRSV and Pi3. POM-V Refer to the packaging or package leaflet for information about side effects, precautions, warnings and contraindications. Further information is available from the SPC/Datasheet or Intervet UK Ltd trading as MSD Animal Health. Registered office Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ, UK. Registered in England & Wales no. 946942. Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber.

Use Medicines Responsibly. For more information please refer to the Responsible Use sections of the NOAH website.

Bovilis® INtranasal RSP™ Live is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright © 2019 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Tel: 01908 685 685 • vet-support.uk@merck.com • www.msd-animal-health.co.uk

UK-BOV-190700095

For further information please contact your MSD Animal HealthAccount Manager or visit www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk

BE FIRST ON THE ROAD TO HIGH PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH IMMUNITY-LED PREVENTIONBRD is one of the most common and costly diseases in young calves, having a long-term impact on lifetime productivity in both dairy and beef systems.2,3,4

Help to protect your stock from BRD related production losses by maximising their immunity through good colostrum management and vaccination.

BOVILIS INTRANASAL RSP LIVENO OTHER BRD VACCINE PROTECTS EARLIER OR FASTER

BE FIRST

BE FAST

ADMINISTRATIONFLEXIBILITY

Administered from 1 week of age – the earliest on-farm application.

Immunity to BRSV and Pi3 gained just 5 and 7 days after application (respectively) which lasts for 12 weeks – the fastest on-farm protection.

Can be administered using a syringe or applicator device. INtranasal RSP™ applicator has been developed to support quick and easy nozzle change allowing for fast, convenient vaccine delivery.

Can be used up to 6 hours after reconstitution – the longest of all intranasal BRD vaccines.

References: 1. APHA Cattle Disease Surveillance Dashboard, Pneumonia Pathogens Recorded 2012-2017. 2. Dunn T. et al. (2018) The effect of lung consolidation, as determined by ultrasonography on first-lactation milk production in Holstein dairy calves, J. Dairy Sci., 101: 1-7. 3. Delabouglise A. et al. (2017) Linking disease epidemiology and livestock productivity: The case of bovine respiratory disease in France. PLoS ONE 12(12). 4. Bareille N. et al. (2008) Impact of respiratory disorders in young bulls during their fattening period on performance and profitability, Renc Rech Ruminants. 15.

Bovilis® INtranasal RSP™ Live contains live BRSV and Pi3 for the active immunisation of calves to reduce clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with BRSV and Pi3. POM-V Refer to the packaging or package leaflet for information about side effects, precautions, warnings and contraindications. Further information is available from the SPC/Datasheet or Intervet UK Ltd trading as MSD Animal Health. Registered office Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ, UK. Registered in England & Wales no. 946942. Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber.

Use Medicines Responsibly. For more information please refer to the Responsible Use sections of the NOAH website.

Bovilis® INtranasal RSP™ Live is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright © 2019 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Tel: 01908 685 685 • vet-support.uk@merck.com • www.msd-animal-health.co.uk

UK-BOV-190700095

For further information please contact your MSD Animal HealthAccount Manager or visit www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk

NEW INTRANASAL CALF PNEUMONIA VACCINE AVAILABLE

With so much pressure on the industry to reduce its use of antibiotics for the treatment of diseases like pneumonia, better preventative calf health is the way forward. For more information on using vaccination to protect vulnerable young calves from pneumonia this winter, contact the practice for advice.

We are pleased to announce that we are one of the first practices to stock a new early life calf pneumonia vaccine for intranasal administration to dairy and beef calves from one week of age. In common with the other vaccines on the market, this vaccine protects against the key viruses that cause pneumonia in calves; RSV and PI3.BOVILIS® INtranasal RSP™ Live from MSD Animal Health is a new vaccine on the market, and as a Vet Partners practice we have been able to secure a deal that we are pleased to pass on to you.

Until the end of January, the price for the new vaccine will be £5.96 / dose which represents a significant cost saving versus the other vaccines on the market.

The vaccine is available in 5 dose vials at present, but single dose vials may be available in the future if there is enough demand.

We know that early and fast protection against pneumonia is important: replacement heifers that do not have pneumonia as calves produce over 500kg more milk in their first lactation1. Beef cattle growth rates can also be compromised following calf pneumonia problems, with animals losing 202g per day as a result of disease-induced lung damage2. For a beef unit looking to finish cattle at 600kg in 18 months this could mean a four-month delay in reaching the target market weight.

BOVILIS® INtranasal RSP™ Live also has practical usage benefits in that it can be used on farm up to six hours after mixing with the solvent, which is the longest of all the available intranasal vaccines for these pathogens.

Additionally, this new vaccine is supplied as a farm-friendly, easy-to administer nasal suspension product that doesn’t need a specific applicator - although for maximum flexibility a new easy-clean injector and nozzle kit is available if you need to vaccinate multiple animals.