Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) vaccines in cattle

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a disease of cattle caused by infection with Bovine herpesvirus type 1.

IBR causes severe respiratory disease that can lead to fatal pneumonia.

In adult cows, infection is associated with a severe and prolonged drop in milk yield, reduced fertility and abortions, and inflammation of the vulva/prepuce.

Eight vaccines for IBR have been marketed in the UK:  

• Bovilis® IBR marker live contains modified live gE-negative Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1)
• Bovilis® IBR Marker Inac contains inactivated gE-negative BHV-1
• Hiprabovis IBR Marker Live contains modified live gE-negative BHV-1 contains inactivated gE-negative BHV-1
• Rispoval IBR-Marker Inactivated contains inactivated gE-negative BHV-1 
• Rispoval IBR-Marker Live contains modified live gE-negative BHV-1
• Tracherine contained modified live BHV-1
• Rhinovac IBR Marker Live contains modified live gE-negative BHV-1
• DIVENCE IBR Marker Live contains modified live gE negative BHV-1

In addition, inactivated BHV-1 virus is also a component of two vaccines that target pneumonia:

• Imuresp RP (no longer on the market)
• Rispoval 4
• DIVENCE PENTA

These are targeted mainly at stock under one year of age.

These combination vaccines have not been included in the estimate of uptake of IBR vaccines but are included in the uptake targeted at calf pneumonia.

The figures used to monitor estimated vaccine uptake are the number of doses of selected vaccines authorised for use in cattle and sheep sold in the UK each year.

These are based on wholesaler data collated by Kynetec and provided by MSD Animal Health.

The number of doses of vaccine administered has been calculated by multiplying the number of packs sold by the number of doses per pack.

Denominator

It was assumed that cattle of all ages should be vaccinated and that the at-risk population was all cattle and calves in the UK.

All cattle are potentially at risk of IBR.

The denominator was calculated on the assumption that all cattle before the age of one year received one dose of the IBR vaccine, and 40% of cattle over one year of age received two boosters annually, while 60% received one IBR booster vaccine per year.

To take this into account, the denominator was, therefore, the number of calves under one year plus the number of cattle over one year multiplied by 1.4.

It is recognised that uptake may vary in the field, with a greater proportion of cattle receiving two boosters annually, however, it is very difficult to quantify patterns of vaccine use nationally and to identify when changes in vaccine use occur.

The assumption has been maintained since 2011, allowing for trends to be identified.

This year an additional assumption has been added, showing estimated uptake if all cattle received two doses year, for comparison.

Since 2017, it has been estimated that more than one in four of all cattle in the UK are being vaccinated against IBR (according to assumption 1).

IBR vaccine estimated uptake has steadily increased from 17% in 2011 to 35% in 2025 (Figure 1) (according to assumption 1).

Figure 1. Percentage of cattle vaccinated against IBR 2011–2025