A new study has found that most on-farm vaccine fridges store critical medicine at the wrong temperature, putting livestock health at risk and prompting urgent calls for farmers to upgrade their equipment using grants.
The study, carried out by MSD Animal Health, found that 84% of on-farm fridges are storing vaccines outside the recommended temperature range.
Experts at the firm warn that this situation could compromise the effectiveness of vital animal health treatments.
FETF support for critical upgrades to vaccine fridges
In light of this, farmers are being encouraged to make use of the latest round of Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants to help cover the cost of specialist vaccine fridges.
Defra’s FETF scheme, which was recently announced, offers up to 50% funding towards the cost of purchasing a medical-grade vaccine fridge.
This support could save farmers several hundred pounds while ensuring vaccines are stored at the correct temperature, helping protect livestock health.
The importance of proper vaccine storage
Maintaining proper vaccine storage is essential to preserve vaccine efficacy. If they are not kept at the appropriate temperature, their effectiveness can be reduced, heightening the risk that they will not perform as intended.
MSD conducted a study across 19 farms in the southwest of England, and the results revealed widespread problems with vaccine storage.
It showed that none of the vaccine fridges surveyed consistently maintained the recommended temperature range of 2–8°C.
A total of 84% of the fridges recorded at least one temperature reading above 8°C, with some reaching as high as 24°C. Meanwhile, 58% of fridges recorded temperatures at or below 0°C, with one dipping as low as -12°C.
In numerous instances, temperatures remained outside the safe range long enough to negatively affect the potency of the vaccines.
Paul Williams, technical manager for ruminants at MSD Animal Health, warned of the risks. He explained: “On-farm storage is the weakest link in the vaccine cold chain.
“Animal health vaccines are extremely fragile, and once damaged, the effect is irreversible – you can’t tell by looking at them if they’re still effective.
“If you’re storing vaccines on the farm, you should check the maximum and minimum temperatures daily. If they’re outside the 2–8°C range, something needs to be done.”
Advice for farmers: The best practices for storage
MSD also reminded farmers of best practices when it comes to vaccine storage. They should not be placed at the back of the fridge, where they may freeze, nor in the door, where temperatures will likely fluctuate each time it is opened.
Additionally, factors such as the fridge’s age, placement, and the surrounding temperature can significantly affect its performance.
Williams concluded: “In an ideal world, vaccines shouldn’t be stored on-farm at all, but if they are, they should be used as soon as possible and transported in a cool bag.
“Vaccinating a large number of animals takes time, so don’t take all the vaccine out of the fridge at once.”
