MSD Animal Health Proud to Support First Of Its Kind Livestock Vaccination Guideline
MILTON KEYNES, U.K., May 25, 2022 – MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today welcomed the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) Livestock Vaccination Guideline for the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.
Published on Tuesday, 24 May 2022, the report advocates a progressive livestock vaccination strategy across the U.K. to further improve U.K. animal health and welfare standards in order to contribute positively to One Health and support sustainable livestock farming, environmental management and food security. Authors Professor Jonathan Statham, Dr Joseph Henry and Dr Fiona Lovatt detail the rationale for vaccination of ruminants for a range of highest priority ‘Category one’ and usually recommended ‘Category two’ ruminant diseases.
“We’re proud to join the growing community of industry organisations pledging to support the implementation of these crucial recommendations that advocate a prevention-first approach,” said Jan Moehlenbrock, MSD Animal Health U.K. managing director.
Sam Gayton, MSD Animal Health U.K. ruminant business unit director, explained that the independent expert recommendations within this Guideline call for this robust vaccination strategy to become routine practice in livestock management.
“This new Guideline from NOAH is a seminal publication which places a new and very specific focus on the role of preventative health in U.K. farming. It will play a pivotal role in helping the whole industry adopt best practice and ensure we can continue to position the U.K. as the home of excellence in animal health and welfare,” said Mr Gayton.
“Ultimately, sustainable food production starts with healthy animals, and the Guideline brings a new urgency to discussions between veterinarians, farmers and industry, leading to effective vaccination strategies becoming the default on-farm.”
The Guideline brings together independent veterinary experts in preventative health approaches, with an introduction from The Right Honourable Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in partnership with NOAH.
Setting out a vision to support veterinarians, other animal health prescribers and advisors, farmers, and policymakers with vaccination guidelines for priority diseases, the Guideline provides a framework for greater farm resilience and sustainable improvements in efficiency and productivity.
“It’s clear that preventing disease and infection on-farm benefits the health and welfare of cattle and sheep. It also supports environmental sustainability goals and plays a central role in a productive and efficient future for dairy, beef and sheep farming across the country,” said Mr Gayton.
###
Notes to editors:
NOAH Livestock Vaccination Guideline for dairy, beef and sheep sectors was authored by:
Introduction: Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Dairy Sector: Prof Jonathan Statham, Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AWHBE – the principal source of departmental advice to DEFRA ministers on all strategic health and welfare matters relating to all kept animals in England); Professor of Sustainable Livestock Health & Welfare at Harper and Keele Veterinary School.
Beef Sector: Dr Joseph Henry, BVMS Cert SHP MRCVS
Sheep Sector: Dr Fiona Lovatt, Dip. ECSRHM. Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Science, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham
About MSD Animal Health
At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of MSD. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. Read more at https://www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/ and find us on Linkedin and Twitter.
Media Contact:
James Read
07974 444425
james.read@msd.com
Becky Callaghan
01568 617626
r.callaghan@pinstone.co.uk
MSD Animal Health UK
Walton Manor
Walton
Milton Keynes
MK7 7AJ