Vaccination Protocol

[Mr. Greenjeans]

Here are the conditions:

You have a herd of 50 cows and you sell the offspring across the scales throughout the year. Calvings occur at 3 different times during the year. Other than blackleg, there are no other prevalent diseases of which you are aware. You only introduce virgin bulls to your herd. You only vaccinate once a year. Bulls, cows, and calves receive the same vaccinations. You are limited to 2 different vaccines (excluding Brucellosis for heifers). Some cows are pregnant while others are in transition.

What 2 vaccines would you use?

Mr. Greenjeans

 

[milkmaid]

For starters, I'd modify the managment. :lol2:

But if I can't do that... one vaccine would be Ultrabac8 or a similar 8-way vaccine to cover blackleg and the other clostridial problems. The other would have to be a killed vaccine for BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI3... Virashield 5 VL6 (I think that's what it's called) would probably be my first choice. Most of the vaccines that cover BVD etc are modified live vaccines, but I know Virashield has a good one for killed vaccines.

 

[randiliana]

For starters, I'd modify the managment. :lol2:

But if I can't do that... one vaccine would be Ultrabac8 or a similar 8-way vaccine to cover blackleg and the other clostridial problems. The other would have to be a killed vaccine for BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI3... Virashield 5 VL6 (I think that's what it's called) would probably be my first choice. Most of the vaccines that cover BVD etc are modified live vaccines, but I know Virashield has a good one for killed vaccines.

Yep, what MM said. I think you must cover blackleg, and BVD. Unless you are totally isolated, your herd is never closed. If you share a fence with someone else your cattle can be exposed to anything that those cattle are.

 

[milkmaid]

For starters, I'd modify the managment. :lol2:

But if I can't do that... one vaccine would be Ultrabac8 or a similar 8-way vaccine to cover blackleg and the other clostridial problems. The other would have to be a killed vaccine for BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI3... Virashield 5 VL6 (I think that's what it's called) would probably be my first choice. Most of the vaccines that cover BVD etc are modified live vaccines, but I know Virashield has a good one for killed vaccines.

Yep, what MM said. I think you must cover blackleg, and BVD. Unless you are totally isolated, your herd is never closed. If you share a fence with someone else your cattle can be exposed to anything that those cattle are.

Someone -maybe BHB?- also mentioned once that unless you raise your own hay your herd is not closed. Who knows what you bring in on someone else's hay?

FWIW, you'll have the best protection if you vaccinate about 30 days prior to breeding, which isn't going to be possible if the cows are vaccinated once a year but calving in 3 seasons throughout the year. Note also that the first time animals are vaccinated they'll need a booster; also not possible if you only vaccinate once a year.

 

[KNERSIE]

If you ever plan to feed silage, haylage or baleage botulism is a must. Don't know about the USA, but Anthrax vaccinations are enforced by law here.

To make things easier some manufacturers do have combination vaccines that will doAnthrax, botulism and most Clostridial strains in one bottle. The Supavax/Duovax combination will do that here. I think its a Intervet product.

If you only plan to vaccinate once a year how are you going to give booster shots?

The rule of thumb is to never give more than 1 MLV and 1 Killed vaccine at the same time otherwise you won't get as strong immune response.

Calving twice a year makes a good health programme almost un-doable adding another calving season would make it impossible.

 

[Brandonm22]

Knersie, unless my memory is wrong the entire state of Alabama has only had two anthrax outbreaks in my lifetime. One on a farm in Blount County in the 1980s and I THINK there was a second in the late 1990s? (when I live in NC or Ark). Prior to that anthrax had not been seen in the state since the 1950s. There are places along rivers up in the Dakotas and Montana where the spores can be unburied in floods and occasionally it will pop up in the deer herd someplace so there are definitely counties in the states that NEED an anthrax vaccination; but on the whole I would place anthrax pretty low on the threat list.

If you can only do one or two shots a year, I would talk to a local vet or extension person; because county by county the threat levels vary considerably. Rabies for example is not real high nationally on the threat list; but if you live in a county where every other raccoon is suffering with the disease, that could be the most important shot to give. Ditto with Trichimonosis (sp?) in the western states or brucella if your cattle come into contact with bison from Yellowstone. In some Michigan counties public enemy #1 would be tuberculosis and there you might want to check with a vet semiannually to see when the cattle TB vaccine is approved.

 

[greenwillowhereford II]

I use Triangle 9 by Fort Dodge. It is killed, not MLV. I personally vaccinate the mature cows once per year, and the calves get shots at an average age of 2-3 months, then boosters within the month following.

 

[Mr. Greenjeans]

Thanks for the feedback.

We use both Vira Shield 6 + VL5HB Somnus as well as a run of the mill 7-Way Clostridium. I will be using Clostri Shield next time unless I can find more compelling evidence for an 8-way formulation. Call me a victim of marketing but the claim with Clostri Shield® 7 is “Tests of four leading 7-way vaccines showed that ONLY Clostri Shield 7 met established antitoxin titer levels across all clostridial fractions.” Does anyone have further insight for a more effective annual booster? I am still looking for a combined version of Vibrio/Lepto and Clostridium. I love to keep it simple (and alive).

Mr. Greenjeans