Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Rabies remains a global health threat, despite the fact that it is a preventable vaccination disease that requires effective and cost-effective approaches. This study was conducted to determine the economic losses from rabies among farm animals in Ukraine and showed the economic feasibility of preventive measures. The data for determining the economic losses from rabies were the official data of the annual reports of the regional departments of the State Food and Consumer Service of Ukraine. During 2009-2018 rabies was confirmed in 1762 farm animals, among which the share of cattle was 85.8%. In general, as a result of the death of farm animals from rabies, animal owners received total economic losses in the amount of UAH 81,701,590, of which 98.7% were losses from the death of cattle. Vaccination of the cow herd in private farms in 5 regions of Ukraine with the most intense epizootic situation regarding cattle rabies will not only reduce to a minimum the number of cases of rabies among this species in the country as a whole, but will have a fairly high economic efficiency (UAH 9.03 per UAH 1.0 of veterinary costs). It is recommended to strengthen the control over the number of homeless animals and wild animals, and the control over vaccination of domestic carnivores as potential sources of rabies for farm animals, as well as to introduce a voluntary program of immunization of cattle and farms based on epidemic control experience EU countries. Prospects for further research will be to assess the risks of rabies in domestic and wild animals in Ukraine

economic losses, farm animals, prevented damage, economic effect, rabies of domestic animals