What protocol do you use when bringing new calves into your place. I just bought an old man's herd of open heifers for a deal I couldn't turn down. They are angus brangus cross heifers 14-16 monthes old. ready for a bull. This man is selling about 60 of his 160 cows for a lack of winter feed. they have had all vaccanations but do you go ahead and give them a round anyway. I planned on keeping them away from my other heifers for about 10 days. what do you do when introducing unknow cattle to your herd. by the way i bought the open heifers for $600 per head. they weigh between 700-900 lbs. If anyone is interested he has some charlois pairs and 3 n 1's for $1200 per pair. some of the calves are 250-400 lbs. I would buy them but they are the wrong color and I am over cowed for my pastures as it is.
new calves into herd
- Thread starter plbcattle
- Start date
Stocker Steve
Well-known member
Conservative recommendation is to keep them separate for 30 days. Some forks just dump them into the pasture. Middle option is to process them, let them settle in for one or two days, and then turn them out. I have tried all three approaches - - it depends on the quality of the cattle and your fences.
Drug companies always recommend revacination. Feedlot data says it does help (first round does not always work it they are sick or stressed or too young) but most of the benifit is for light calves less than 600 pounds. I would want to know when and what kind of meds he used before I made a decision.
Drug companies always recommend revacination. Feedlot data says it does help (first round does not always work it they are sick or stressed or too young) but most of the benifit is for light calves less than 600 pounds. I would want to know when and what kind of meds he used before I made a decision.
Texan
Well-known member
I'd vaccinate 'em just like they hadn't been done. But even more importantly, I'd suggest you try to have adequate immunity in the cattle that you already have. Either another booster of what you are using for your herd vaccinations, or an MLV viral/repro combination, if you're putting them with open heifers.
Another 'booster' of that MLV for your open heifers before putting them together in a few weeks wouldn't hurt. The labels for most of the MLV's don't call for boostering all factions of the vaccine, but I usually go ahead and use another shot of the same thing to pick up immunity in the ones that might not have gotten any from the first shot. With the money you've got tied up in cattle, vaccine is pretty cheap.
Another 'booster' of that MLV for your open heifers before putting them together in a few weeks wouldn't hurt. The labels for most of the MLV's don't call for boostering all factions of the vaccine, but I usually go ahead and use another shot of the same thing to pick up immunity in the ones that might not have gotten any from the first shot. With the money you've got tied up in cattle, vaccine is pretty cheap.
I agree with Texan to MLV vaccinate your own heifers prior to their arrival. Than MLV the new ones. Unless you can keep them seperated for 30 days, you might as well put them together IF they are outside in large area.
I would deffinately keep them away from any of your CALVING cows. You're cows colostrum will not cover any new bugs the new cattle are carrying. Not saying the new cattle have bad bugs, they may just be DIFFERENT bugs than your herd & the newborns will have NO resistance to the new cattle's bugs.
I would deffinately keep them away from any of your CALVING cows. You're cows colostrum will not cover any new bugs the new cattle are carrying. Not saying the new cattle have bad bugs, they may just be DIFFERENT bugs than your herd & the newborns will have NO resistance to the new cattle's bugs.
Susie David
Well-known member
We pen the new additions to watch for sickies and keep them in a seperate pasture for three weeks.
