Weaning without meds
- Thread starter tncattle
- Start date
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tncattle said:
Had an uncle who did. Rarely vaccinated his cows either.
I don't recommend it.
Aaron
Well-known member
Sure. People do it all the time. Just make sure that you have a cabinet full of antibiotics and a trackhoe for burying the deads on standby.
76 Bar
Well-known member
My initial vaccination & subsquent boosters are completed ~30 days prior to weaning.
Redgully
Well-known member
Never vaccinate anything here. My vet said vaccinating is like having a firetruck, you really don't need it until there is a fire and then it's too late.....he reckons I'm going to burn one day....
Ky hills
Well-known member
I would not recommend it.
Redgully said:
Are you serious?
Bright Raven
Well-known member
Vaccination is cheaper than whiskey, just ask Gcreekranch.
I have no idea what percentage of producers do not vaccinate. I personally know one of our biggest producers in the county does not vaccinate. He is a good neighbor and friend. He has told me many times that he considers a 10 % mortality rate in his annual calf crop acceptable.
I also know producers who don't vaccinate and they claim they don't lose many calves. True Grit has commented many times that some of the locals in his area do not vaccinate and he has said they do as well as he does.
I recommend vaccinating .
I have no idea what percentage of producers do not vaccinate. I personally know one of our biggest producers in the county does not vaccinate. He is a good neighbor and friend. He has told me many times that he considers a 10 % mortality rate in his annual calf crop acceptable.
I also know producers who don't vaccinate and they claim they don't lose many calves. True Grit has commented many times that some of the locals in his area do not vaccinate and he has said they do as well as he does.
I recommend vaccinating .
We have blackleg in our soil. In 2010 when my father in law was in the grip of Parkinson's he failed to vaccinate. Lost 6 or 7 600 lb calves late that summer. I learned the lesson.
alisonb
Well-known member
Would you be selling the weaners or fattening them yourself? If I was to buy weaners I'd make certain they have been vaccinated/dewormed.
WinterSpringsFarm
Well-known member
I've known several producers that don't vaccinate and get along just fine. Could it be a train wreck waiting to happen? Sure! But then again some trains never wreck!
I vaccinate
I vaccinate
alisonb
Well-known member
Have heard people say "Had to cull that animal, it was a 'poor doer'" and they blame it on genetics or breeding. In the meantime they never stuck to a vaccination program or dewormed their animals...who is at fault?
Aaron
Well-known member
alisonb said:
Their parents for breeding.
alisonb
Well-known member
"That is how you select animals that fit your management practices, cull the ones that don't work out. Simple cow man logic."
Am I to understand that your management practices do not include vaccinating or deworming?
BTW - Which 'simple' would you be referring to?
There is an Ivomec advert that says "Invest a little, gain a lot".
Am I to understand that your management practices do not include vaccinating or deworming?
BTW - Which 'simple' would you be referring to?
There is an Ivomec advert that says "Invest a little, gain a lot".
Well let's set the record straight. I follow a pretty ridged vaccination and worming program invoking spring and fall work up on the entire herd. Not my idea just "doing what has always been done". I'd love to save the time, money and effort if there's a better way.
As the late Ross Perot once said "I'm all ears".
As the late Ross Perot once said "I'm all ears".
Nesikep
Well-known member
30 years without vaccinating calves, never had a problem, though mine have a pretty low stress life and don't get too worked up anyhow.
Stocker Steve
Well-known member
Vaccine is over sold. If you read the fine print in many vaccines companies lit they compare one vaccine method to another, but not no vaccine...
It is a stress and soil thing. :cowboy:
It is a stress and soil thing. :cowboy:
I vaccinate for blackleg and should for lepto, I haven't wormed for ages and don't see a reason to at this time. Weaning is in the fall after at least on storm, get them out on some grass so they aren't bunched up in a dusty pen when they quit bawling. It may be 30 days or longer after they're weaned before I get them worked and vaccinated.
