Scotty":v3m2senq said:Depends on the type of year. Give an A & D shot befor calving.
Scotty
T-Bone":2hzycc52 said:Bez, what about the B-12 for appetite?
cattle on pasture dont need B12.i do however give mine A-D shot twice a year.if they dont have a appetite they got something else going on that might take more than vitamins.Bez!":3pqxrfgw said:T-Bone":3pqxrfgw said:Bez, what about the B-12 for appetite?
Huh?
Would never consider it. Genetics carries the herd - or they go down the road.
No different than people. If they eat right they need no supplements.
Bez!
T-Bone":q2gd0v90 said:what about the B-12 for appetite?
Bez!":2nr1yc12 said:Huh?
Would never consider it. Genetics carries the herd - or they go down the road.
No different than people. If they eat right they need no supplements.
Bez!
novaman":1xkxxu34 said:Bez!":1xkxxu34 said:Huh?
Would never consider it. Genetics carries the herd - or they go down the road.
No different than people. If they eat right they need no supplements.
Bez!
Now I don't mean to question the way people operate and I certainly don't know the conditions that many of you have to deal with. The problem I see with not giving shots, whether it be vitamin shots, scourgard, preggard or any kind of shots, is the fact that vaccinating is far cheaper than having to pay for it should a problem occur. Furthermore, deficiencies can occur long before any symtoms of that deficiency are present. I guess the main vitamin shot I give my cows every year prior to calving is vitamin A. Not only is vitamin A an anti-oxidant in the body but it is also vital to the animal in so many ways. Nearly every bodily function has some tie to vitamin A. Those of you that believe the cattle get enough vitamin A from their feeds and shouldn't require supplementation cause me to scratch my head. If you can keep your cows on green grass year-round then I would agree with you but I highly doubt anyone has that luxury. Vitamin A can only be stored in the liver for about 120 days and is especially high in demand at calving time. Unless you like to take chances I would definately give vitamin A shots just to be on the safe side. But again it's just my opinion. There are probably many of you that can get by without giving shots.
novaman":2e4yxxbe said:Bez, I'm not saying everybody needs to be giving vitamin shots. Everybody makes their operations work for them. I can see your point about not wanting to run the cows through just to give them a vitamin shot. We feed the cows in the fields through the winter. About ten days prior to the start of calving we bring them in and give them a shot of scourguard and a shot of vitamin ADE. The vitamin A along with proper amounts of selenium prevent weak calf sydrome. I'm sure I could get by without the vitamin vaccination but at less than a dollar per head for the ADE I think I would like the peace of mind knowing my cattle vaccinated. Sure the name of the game is profit but I feel there is a fine line between skimping and taking proper care of your herd.
I feel there is a fine line between skimping and taking proper care of your herd.