UK egg producers urged to stay vigilant against salmonella risk

Speaking at Elanco’s annual Layer Conference, Gary Ford, head of strategy and producer engagement at the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), praised the UK egg sector’s world-leading track record on salmonella control – but warned that the threat remains real.

“We’ve come a long way as an industry – our low levels of salmonella make us the envy of Europe, and that’s something we should take great pride in. But food safety concerns haven’t gone away, and one bad headline is all it takes to shake public confidence.

“Retailers are focused on food safety for good reason, continuing to demand British Lion eggs, because they trust the robust salmonella control measures behind this certification – and it’s up to us to maintain those high standards,” he added.

The conference also highlighted findings from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) advisory visits, where issues such as ineffective vermin control, inappropriate disinfectant use, and poor drainage on ranges were identified as recurring weaknesses on-farm.

Mr Ford said: “Rodents remain public enemy number one when it comes to spreading salmonella, and a joined-up approach to prevention is vital.

“From pullet rearers to producers and packers, everyone has a role to play in disease control and should use a full toolkit of measures that includes vaccination alongside rigorous biosecurity protocols.”

Salmonella prevention through innovation

Joshua Davison, veterinary technical consultant at Elanco, echoed the importance of sustained vigilance and a holistic prevention strategy.

“The UK’s low salmonella prevalence isn’t accidental. It’s the result of long-term commitment from the industry, and vaccination is a key part of that success, alongside investment in biosecurity and monitoring,” he said.

Mr Davison offered an inside look at Elanco’s portfolio range of live bacterial and viral vaccines developed to protect layer and breeder flocks against key disease challenges, showing how innovation is driving smarter, more effective disease prevention on farm.

He highlighted that Avipro Salmonella Duo remains the only trusted dual-strain live vaccine for poultry, introducing both Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) simultaneously to build immunity and provide superior direct protection in a single dose from day one.

“On-farm, this supports ease of use, efficient flock management, and minimal disruption to routine surveillance,” Mr Davison explained.

He also spoke about Elanco’s innovation pipeline and its ongoing efforts to improve vaccine quality, stability, and ease of use – supporting producers in managing disease while maintaining productivity and welfare.

“Our focus is on delivering reliable, high-quality vaccines that fit seamlessly into the realities of poultry production.”

For more information on preventing the risk of disease challenge from salmonella on-farm, click here.

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