Blackleg in my pasture

[rodman]

I have had 2 650 pound feeder steers die int the last week due to blackleg. Is there anything i can put on the ground to get the disease out of it?

 

[dun]

It's there and I don;t know of anyway to eliminate it. From now on any animal exposed to that pasture has to be vaccinated and boostered for the clostridial diseases.

 

[Lucky_P]

It's pretty much everywhere; worldwide.
If you raise cattle and don't vaccinate against it... you're rolling the dice, and eventually, it'll catch up to you.

Nothing you can do about the presence of spores in the soil on your place. Vaccinate.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Just exactly what the two above me said :nod: .

 

[Banjo]

what about just one round of blackleg vaccine and they don't ever get the booster?

 

[Lucky_P]

banjo,
One dose *may* protect many of them - but the manufacturer didn't put that 'booster needed' phrase in the label just to sell more vaccine - the trials they conducted to satisfy USDA requirements for licensure showed that the booster, administered as stated, was necessary to provide a specific level of protection ( like, maybe, 95% resisted challenge or demonstrated detectable antibody levels).

Millions probably survive with one dose - but is it because they were adequately immunized, or did they just not have an exposure? How do you know? It's cheap. Give the booster. Yeah, I know it's a PITA getting 'em up and running 'em through the alley/chute again, but... I'm just sayin'...

 

[johndeerefarmer]

One dose is better than none.

Blackleg appears sporadically around here. I think the drought made it come back this time.

 

[xbred]

rodman, where are you located? i've always assumed that blackleg typically kills smaller calves, 3-400 lbs.. i'm wrong...

 

[johndeerefarmer]

The one's that I have seen that it gets are from 300-500 lbs

 

[jltrent]

I use single Dose Alpha-7/MB-1 and so far no blackleg and very few pink eye cases. Also if you have a hard time catching them for what ever reason get a dart gun. I have one of these and if I miss a calf I use it. It works great and for around $4 a disposable dart can vaccinate them. Sorry for you loss and I hop you don't lose anymore.
http://www.pneudart.com/
http://shop.pneudart.com/air-activated/ ... projector/


http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html ... 159aa45a1f

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Just came across this on facebook today.

Here is a great shot of what the tissue looks like:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

 

[LimoX]

Might want to look at your vaccination program. Happen to use a few yrs back and we were only using 5 way vaccine and Vet told us to go to 7way to make sure we covered all the strains. Don't know if it helped but we haven't had a problem with blackleg since.

 

[Phil in Tupelo]

Blackleg seems to always get the best calves in the pasture. At today's prices, one calf will pay for a lot of vaccine. Blackleg lurks, always there, always waiting for a chance. One calf, two calves or more. This loss not only would pay for a lot of vaccine, but would likely pay for some pens and maybe even a nice squeeze chute to help with the vaccines. That being said, can't do a thing about yesterday. But as for tomorrow... vaccine and facilities.

 

[Dave]

Ultra Bac 8 cost about $0.40 a shot. This fall my few steers averaged $948. I could give 2,370 doses of vaccine for the value of one calf. It is pretty darn cheap insurance. And a whole bunch cheaper than anything you could begin to try to do to your pasture.

 

[snake67]

2 Nov to 19 Nov

Asks a question and leaves

Another one hit wonder

Bez

 

[Rafter S]

I vaccinate with 7-way, castrate, and eartag my calves when the youngest is about 2 weeks old, so the oldest will be about 8-10 weeks old. That's all my steer calves get until they're sold and I've never lost one to blackleg. Heifers get a booster when I wean them. Like someone said above, the blackleg vaccine is pretty cheap insurance.