Vaccination Necessary for Cow/Calf Herds

Ihave had the request from several prominent breeders to give my opinion on the core or main vaccines necessary to raise healthy productive cattle. I will also mention a few others that are used in specific herds or groups of cattle for specific reasons. The science of vaccinology is ever evolving and we will continue to see more intranasal vaccines developed and potentially oral vaccines. More and more are used in combinations so the number of ‘shots required at one time is often limited to two or less. The human COVID 19 pandemic is a very real reminder on how vaccines could prevent disease spread by vaccinating the vast majority of the population. You can bet manufacturers are frantically doing their best to make this a reality. Vaccination is one of the best forms of biosecurity on our farms and ranches. I will be focusing on the diseases in this article and will use specific brand names as a reference . Keep in mind there are three to four very large vaccine manufacturers out there so most of these diseases you have three or four choices of product to get the job done. Some vaccines have slight advantages over each other but rely on your herd veterinarian, fellow breeder or producer and your pharmaceutical rep to help determine the best combination of products for you. Let’s start with the calves and now if producers have trouble with pneumonia there are two intranasal products given early in life to help prevent pneumonia in the first two months of age. They ‘re inforce for the viruses and Once PMH IN for the bacteria. All calves at turnout to pasture are processed in this country generally at about the three months of age. Products used contain the clostridial or blackleg like diseases as well as histophilus. These often come in combination together but remember when used in combination never contains tetanus. This only becomes necessary if you band large calves. Then tetanus must be given before the banding with a different clostridial shot. Calves are also given the viral and bacterial vaccines for pneumonia. They are often combined in one shot. Again there are three vaccines out there that get this job done. They are Vista Once or Pyramid Presponse or Bovishield Gold One Shot. That means hopefully you are giving one of these vaccines otherwise the vaccination program is pretty inadequate in my opinion. There are slight differences in these vaccines such as in two the bacterial component is a killed vaccine and in one of the products does contain Pasteurella Multocida one additional bacterial cause of pneumonia. The combination of the bacterial histophilus and the pneumonia pathogens are

again boostered for at or preferably just before weaning by two weeks. This would be their booster shots. If these are commercial cattle or ones not keeping as replacements then notify the purchaser what they have had. Preconditioned or pre-immunized cattle should indicate a superior product and that they are well managed. Heifer replacements before breeding we want to again booster the clostridial diseases with a nine way or eight-way clostridial preferably with protection against tetanus and Redwater disease in them. To me preferably the broader coverage against clostridial disease the better. New Zealand uses a 10-way clostridial diseases and I wish we had it here as the 10th component is sometimes seen in Canada more commonly in adult dairy cattle. It is a clostridium perfringens A infection but cant be licensed in Canada unfortunately. The heifers will also at this same time before breeding get their 5 way modified live viral shot to protect mainly against the reproductive diseases The cows also need their clostridial protection and most do it on entry to pasture but others fit it in at other times of the year. In some areas depending on the disease prevalence and other factors may be given every couple of years but in other areas where Redwater is prevalent it is given every six months. The cows need their vaccines for IBR PI3 BVD (type 1 and 2) and BRSV. This is where it gets tricky. This comes in the form of the 5Way viral vaccines most are modified live vaccines just like the ones we give the calves. Ideally they should be given after calving and before breeding. The idea is getting protection against the two main causes of cattle abortions as well as preventing what they call are persistently infected calves from BVD. Some veterinarians may suggest giving these live shots at other times because management is easier when given for instance at scour vaccine time but that is a discussion with your veterinarian. Also if the need arises to change brands of vaccines some companies make this much easier than others so always double check their labels. Most larger herds (> 100 cows) I would say scours vaccinate and many small herds do as well. If we can boost immunity through the colostrum and prevent the first scours case that is what we want. There again are three strong brands out there Bovilus Guardian, Scour Bos, and Scourguard. The key here is the timing of the vaccines when they are given before calving. Heifers or new purchases always need the initial and booster shot. One of these vaccines is given subcutaneously and they all have protection against the main scour causing agents with slight differences. Remember some scours causing protozoa such as cryptosporidiosis there is no vaccination against it. If have some scours get it diagnosed so you know what you are fighting. Bulls generally do the same as the cow herd with the exception of the scour’s vaccines. Lots are administering foot rot vaccines to the bulls if required. A great time to vaccinate is usually semen testing time. Other vaccines such as leptospirosis, vibriosis, and anthrax being examples may be given if these diseases are an issue in your area or herd. Again, rely on your herd veterinarian on specific advice about these.

I would like to end by stating any purebred breeder in their sales catalogues whether it be selling bulls or females state your vaccination protocol. The purchasers want to know, and you are looked on as leaders in biosecurity and preventive medicine. Let others know what you are doing by either listing the specific diseases you are trying to prevent or the specific trade names whatever you prefer. Both are far superior to saying nothing or saying motherhood statements like cattle are vaccinated for all the common diseases. The whole cattle industry will benefit if vaccine programs, deworming and parasite control is listed.