Cattle need vaccinations to prevent disease outbreaks.
Vaccinations are the cheapest health insurance you can get for your your cattle. A strong vaccination program is well worth the time, effort and small outlay of money. If just one cow or calf is prevented from dying from a disease, you will have more than made back your money spent on vaccinations. Schedule vaccinations in the fall when cows can also be pregnancy checked.
Types of Vaccines
Vaccines can come in two versions. Modified live vaccines mean the disease-causing organism is still alive but modified by the vaccine manufacturer to not cause the disease in healthy animals. This type of vaccination is considered to give a superior immune response than the killed vaccine, the other version of vaccines, where the disease-causing organism is dead but still can stimulate the animal's immune system. Modified live vaccines should not be given to pregnant cattle or to calves that are still nursing a cow; instead a killed vaccine should be used.
Blackleg Vaccine
Blackleg is a disease caused by spore-forming Clostridium bacteria. The spores can lie dormant in the soil for years and infect a calf when it eats feed or soil contaminated by the spores. The spores lodge in various organs and muscles in the calf, and when an injury occurs they multiply. The injury does not have to be severe, even slight bruising can cause the spores to become active and multiply. Many times there are no signs of infection, and an infected animal may just be found dead.
Leptospirosis Vaccines
There are many strains of leptospirosis, but only five types cause the majority of illness in cattle. In adult cattle, the disease primarily affects the cows' reproductive organs, causing abortions, infertility and stillbirths. Calves may get ill with fever and blood problems.
Respiratory Viral Diseases Vaccines
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and parainfluenza 3 (PI3) are all viral respiratory and intestinal diseases that commonly affect stressed cattle, such as calves being weaned or sold at auction.
Brucellosis Vaccine
Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by the bacteria Brucella abortus. It can also infect humans where it causes a condition called undulant fever. Almost 100% of the cattle in the U.S. are free from this disease due to vaccination programs.
Calf Vaccine Protocol
Before weaning, calves should be vaccinated with a seven-way blackleg vaccine, a five-way leptospirosis vaccine, and with a combination vaccine for IBR-BVD-PI3. Heifers should be vaccinated against brucellosis between four to 12 months of age. If pinkeye is a problem in your area, calves should be vaccinated against this prior to the start of the grazing season.
Cow and Bull Vaccine Protocol
Cows and bulls should be vaccinated against IBR-BVD-PI3, BRSV and leptospirosis once a year. In addition, they should also be vaccinated once a year against vibriosis (a genital tract infection).
Other Vaccines
In some areas of the country, cattle may need to be vaccinated against anthrax, scours, Pasteurella, Haemophilus somnus and trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted disease). Check with a local veterinarian to determine if your cattle herd needs these vaccines.
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