Bang’s vaccine

[NIdahoShorthorns]

The bad part is that the vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent the disease. It just prevents the abortions. The cows can become infected and contagious without showing any symptoms. We had a positive flagged several years ago that stirred up our State Animal Health Dept. Fortunately, it was a false positive but we got an education about Brucellosis! Back then, a confirmed positive resulted in the quarantine and eradication of the entire herd! Now they quarantine, vaccinate and test until the herd is deemed clean with no positives after two years.

Seems like eradication would be cheaper than two years of quarantine. Unless you have a purebred operation.

 

[deff]

You can still raise and sell calves and cull cows etc, but everything that moves off the ranch has to go to a feedlot or straight to slaughter. Having to keep the herd in close for repeated vaccinations and testing can be the biggest hardship. Quite a few producers near Yellowstone Park have had to go through the process over the last few years. Elk seem to be the main source. Most ranches in Montana have continuously vaccinated their replacement heifers ever since 1940's but bangs is still around courtesy of the Dept of Interior.

 

[SBMF 2015]

I was looking into it more, adult cow bangs vax is required to be done by the state vet or a federal employee. Everything I read said they take no responsibility for adverse events. I can't find out why, but it seems that vaccinating after 12 months poses risks that don't exist in calves, so why not do it when it's easy? As stated above, seems like getting the shots would be easier than risking a whole herd quarantine, or worse, disposal.

I think the chances of false positives are much greater in cows than hfr calves.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

The vet said if he gave a cow a Bangs vaccination and it aborted, it would have to be reported as a Brucellosis abortion and would create a bunch of headaches.

 

[J+ Cattle]

I take my heifers to the vet for the Bangs vaccine, it's inexpensive, less than $10/head. Cheap insurance as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Brute 23]

The vet said if he gave a cow a Bangs vaccination and it aborted, it would have to be reported as a Brucellosis abortion and would create a bunch of headaches.

If you Google bangs vaccine the first thing that comes up is... for use in cattle 4-12 mo the old and not pregnant.

Not sure why they were doing a bred cow?

I dont know that much about the vaccine though. They have to be less than a year old here per the vet but maybe that's just a state rule and not per the vaccine.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

If you Google bangs vaccine the first thing that comes up is... for use in cattle 4-12 mo the old and not pregnant.

Not sure why they were doing a bred cow?

I dont know that much about the vaccine though. They have to be less than a year old here per the vet but maybe that's just a state rule and not per the vaccine.

There was a silver tag for older cows. I was just asking questions as the vet was doing his job with my heifers.