For farmers, animals are a vital part of our livelihood. Keeping our animals healthy can mean the difference between providing for our families or struggling to pay bills each month. Vaccines play an extremely important part in animal health, but a global vaccine shortage is affecting farms across the country. What’s causing the shortage, and what can farmers do about it?
What’s Causing the Animal Vaccine Shortage?
The vaccine shortage has many causes, but two are driving most of the problems that farmers experience. On one hand, production is still backlogged from COVID-19 delays, so the actual production cycle is behind the present demand.
The global supply chain is also partially responsible for animal vaccine shortages, as well as shortages of other ingredients essential to herd health. The global supply chain is suffering not only from the effects of COVID but also from the situation in Ukraine and a global labor shortage. These constraints have decreased vaccine production. Lower production rates are affecting farmers’ ability to maintain herd health, care for sick and injured animals, and profit from their herds.
What Can Farmers Do About Vaccine Shortages?
Some farmers are turning to alternative treatment or feed options to keep their herd healthy. Although these treatments can work, they’re often too expensive for many farmers. Maintain herd health without hurting your profit margin by preventing diseases before they can harm your animals.
Frequently monitor herd health for any irregularities that indicate disease. Closely check your animals for tender or blistered feet, shivering, fever, or reduced milk yield. These are all signs of cattle diseases, like foot and mouth disease.
Similar signs appear in sheep as well, but other signs include sudden, severe lameness and extended periods spent lying down. With any disease, identifying and isolating your animals are key to preventing an outbreak. With quarantined animals, remember to feed and care for them quickly to prevent exposure to other animals.
Maintaining Herd Health with Carlson Wholesale
After you suspect an animal has a disease or injury, it is time to bring in professional veterinary assistance. While waiting for the vet to arrive, or while you are assessing your animal’s health, it is important to quarantine the affected animal.
Carlson Wholesale offers fencing options to create isolation solutions for your animals. With our portable water systems, you can also keep quarantined animals hydrated and healthy while ensuring the rest of your herd is safe. Contact us with questions or swing by to see how we can assist you.