BVD vaccines

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dyates

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Winchester, ky
I am not sure, but I think I have a problem. I have five cows isolated on a small farm with their first calves. Three out of five calves have birth defects. One has very stiff movement, one is blind, and the third has cataracts on both eyes. The calves are otherwise healthy at this point. After beating my head against the wall, doing a lot of research, and reviewing my records, it appears that the heifers were possibly given an MLV vaccine at 90-120 days bred. Of all the times and places, the vaccination would have been done at the vet clinic when I sent them in to be palpated! Now I have to keep the five pair quarrantined from my other cattle until the calves are old enough to test to see if they are PI.
Does my theory about the birth defects seem logical? Does anyone have any ideas as to what the cause might be. I must also add that we haven't noticed any problems with any other cattle on any other farms. These five haven't been in contact with the rest of the herd since their trip to the vet.
 
It does sound like BVD,but I doubt your Vet would have used a live vaccine on bred cows.I am sure they would have used a killed one.Did you talk to your Vet yet?
 
I have not talked to the vet yet. I'm sure that if a live vaccine was used, it was unintentional. My bill had a line item for the feeder cattle program which indicates they were vaccinated with the same vaccine as feeders. They weren't supposed to be vaccinated at all. I had vaccinated them myself prior to breeding. We only have one good large animal vet in central Kentucky and they have always done an outstanding job. Everybody makes mistakes. I just need to find out for sure what I have so I can manage appropriately. I will be communicating with him SOON.
 
If you vaccinated them prior to breeding, then technically there should not be a problem with giving a MLV during gestation. Granted, it would be ideal if it were the exact same MLV as what was given prior to breeding.

Have you considered something else, like Selenium deficiency (muscle weakness/stiffness) or IBR (blindness)?
 
Also, I'm pretty sure you can test at birth for BVD.

Next thought... if it IS BVD, then it's just as possible that the dams are PI cows and it has nothing to do with the vaccine.
 
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milkmaid":elm7ai8a said:
Also, I'm pretty sure you can test at birth for BVD.

Next thought... if it IS BVD, then it's just as possible that the dams are PI cows and it has nothing to do with the vaccine.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure you are correct.

If they have been vaccinated with a MLV vaccine prior to going to the vet, it should have been fine if they accidentally got another dose (that was really the purpose of vaccinating in the first place, to prevent complications if the heifers were exposed to the BVD virus)

Although I haven't got any personal experience from reactions bred cows have when accidentally vaccinated with a MLV, it was my understanding that there would be a chance that they will abort, especially in the 5-7 month stage. Never heard the vet mention that the calves are likely to be abnormal.
 
Here's the problem. The vaccine is modified live, meaning that it has the capability of causing the disease, albeit it supposedly cannot. If the cows were PI, then they could not respond to the vaccine originally given, but could still come down with the disease while pregnant. Depending on when given, it could either cause defects or abortion.

Frankly, there are some MLV for BVD that are licenced in pregnant cows, and I refuse to use them for this reason. Have I seen birth defects from BVD--absolutely. And depending on the strain given, it is not impossible for the vaccine to do it as well.

I'd talk to your vet and see what their feeling is on the subject.
 
Their is a large animal vet in Richmond that you may not know about. W.L. Beckley. He raises registered Herefords and if your not using him you may want to consider talking with him.
 
Thanks for all the info. The heifers were vaccinated before breeding with killed vaccines, not MLV. I was concerned that they might be bred already and I did not want to abort them.
I have been feeding a free choice mineral with selenium in it.
The blindness could be IBR, but everything was vaccinated for that also. If the heifers are PI, it would be a big coincidence since they came from our herd and we haven't any problem elsewhere out of 60 plus cows.
LFF, how do you know L.W.? He was a fraternity brother of mine. I've seen him at restaraunts a couple of times, but didn't know he had opened a practice. I'll look him up.
 
I've meet him at some of the Hereford shows and Association meetings. I am not sure if he has opened a private practice or not, just know that I've been told that he is a large animal Vet.
 

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