THE pharmaceutical company Zoetis Ireland has apologised to breeders for the shortage in supply of the equine herpes vaccine. The lack of supply has led to the Department of Agriculture issuing special permission for unlicensed alternative vaccines to be imported, while sales companies have been forced to put special measures in place at the forthcoming breeding stock sales to reduce the risk of disease outbreak.

A statement issued on Friday by Zoetis Ireland said the company “would like to apologise for the ongoing Equip EHV1,4 supply issue which has affected markets worldwide. We understand the level of anxiety and frustration in the Irish equine community.