Thanks Jan, my understanding was that they could be vaccinated after a year but it can only be done after a blood panel has been done. I believe Washington and Idaho require it for an animal to be sold as breeding stock, not as a slaughter animal. (Hopefully somebody who knows this topic could pitch in) Our vet has never shown much concern for having that vaccination either, he doesn't administer it to his heifers. His animals always get buried on the place though from old age. Can checking her eyesight be done with just a simple hand by the eyes blinking reaction? I know it wouldn't gauge poor sight but it'd definitely rule out blindness correct?
Lee, I'm not afraid to cull an animal out if given a reason, I didn't know if a couple snorts for a split second was considered reason enough. The animals don't have line of sight to where we approach them at, It's an old farm with several pieces of dead machinery that we come around to the animals. Its always happened on first approach and as soon as she hears me talk she relaxes. When we looked at her before buying her she was in the middle of a 5-6 acre pasture and we walked within a couple feet of her. She didn't mind us at all. I just want to be sure I'm not causing her to react that way by surprise or something, not just blame the heifer. As I mentioned originally, I'm a farmer, not a rancher so this is new to me. I move slow, speak calmly and try to make sure I'm aware of the animal's behavior.
Thanks again everyone.
Farmer
This is just part of the information concerning vaccinating for brucellosis in Oregon. I have always vaccinated
heifers I planned to keep. When we were running dairy cows not all were vaccinated, but the milk is tested for
brucellosis at intervals. I know of one rancher in the area that had brucellosis in his herd of beef cows more than
once. I always viewed it as an inexpensive precaution. I was not familiar with the "mature vaccination" or the
"adult vaccination".
OFFICIAL CALFHOOD VACCINATION PROCEDURE
Official calfhood vaccination may only be performed by an accredited veterinarian on female cattle and
bison when more than 4 months of age and less than 12 months of age.
OREGON MATURE VACCINATION PROCEDURE
Oregon regulations allow healthy females of breeding age, which were not vaccinated as calves, to be
vaccinated for brucellosis after twelve months of age. The USDA does not recognize Mature Vaccination
as "official vaccination", and many states will not accept mature vaccinated cattle. Before sending
mature vaccinated cattle interstate, check with the state of destination to determine their policy on
mature vaccinates.
Note: Adult vaccination is an official USDA term and refers to vaccination of a brucellosis infected or
exposed herd. It is important to use the term "Mature Vaccination" when dealing with normal vaccination
of cattle over twelve months of age.