Post by barnydhppy on Aug 25, 2010 13:29:25 GMT -5
The following link/posted article has been provided through the conversational thread : Do you vaccinate your cattle
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Which Vaccines Are Right for Your Dairy Farm
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There are many different types of vaccines on the market today. Knowing which vaccines to use, what brand, when, and how often can become quite confusing. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the types of vaccines available for dairy cows and how they’re used so that you can decide which vaccines are right for your farm. No one vaccine protocol is right for every farm. There are some basic principles that should be followed. However, management practices, time constraints, and varying disease prevalence among herds require tailoring of vaccine protocols.
Vaccines work by exposing an animal to a minuscule amount of the diseases we are trying to protect them against. When the animal’s immune system recognizes this “foreign material”, it begins to make antibodies against it. Antibodies are proteins in the bloodstream that fight off diseases. If an animal is exposed to a disease it had been adequately vaccinated against, the antibodies it had previously made should be able to quickly conquer the infection and the disease should either be avoided completely or its severity significantly lessened.
Most vaccines are either administered in the muscle (intramuscularly or IM) or under the skin (subcutaneously or SQ). Appropriate IM injection sites include the muscle of the neck just in front of the shoulder blade or the back of the hindleg about a hand’s width below the vulva. Injections given SQ can be administered under the skin in front of or behind the shoulder blade or in the tail head. A few vaccines are given intranasally by squirting a small amount into the animal’s nostril.
All farms should use a 9-way vaccine.
Bull Breeding Soundness Exams Julie E. Kyle, VMD *AABP Breeding Soundness Seminar 2004* Evaluation of breeding soundness includes physical exam, electroejaculation and microscopic examination of semen quality, motility and morphology. ***Excellent Restraint Required*** is sometimes referred to as the vaccine for shipping fever because it protects against many of the viruses involved with pneumonia or shipping fever. These include Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Parainfluenza, and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV). 9-way vaccines also innoculate against Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and 5 different types of Leptospirosis. As discussed in our last newsletter, BVD can cause abortions, malformations, and persistently infected calves. Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can be spread from cow to cow within a herd and can cause low conception rates, early embryonic loss, and abortions. 9-way vaccines are considered either “killed” or “live“. Live vaccines contain preparations of live virus strains of IBR, Parainfluenza, BRSV, and BVD. Animals vaccinated with live vaccines tend to show a larger immune response compared to those vaccinated with killed vaccines. If an animal has not been well vaccinated before, live vaccines used in pregnant animals may cause abortions. However, certain live vaccines can be used in pregnant animals if they were first vaccinated as an open heifer or as an open fresh cow. Be sure to check the label on the vaccine you‘re working with before vaccinating any pregnant animals with a live vaccine. Live 9-way vaccines include Bovi-Shield Gold 5L5 and Titanium 5L5. Killed vaccines contain chemically altered or inactivated strains of IBR, Parainfluenza, and BVD and a live BRSV strain. Killed vaccines can be safely used in pregnant and open animals. Killed 9-way vaccines include Cattlemaster 4L5, Masterguard 10, Elite 9, and Triangle 9. All 9-way vaccines, both killed and live, should initially be given as a 2 shot series approximately 1 month apart. In a well-vaccinated herd, a good time to start this would be at 4 and 5 months of age. Once an animal receives the initial 2 doses, annual re-vaccination is recommended. This can be done annually by the calendar year (such as every spring) or annually at approximately 3-4 weeks post-fresh. Cows that don’t breed back right away may need to receive a 9-way booster to keep them current. As with all vaccines, it is important to avoid vaccinating during times of stress such as freshening, transport, or group changes. Most 9-way vaccines are intramuscular, but be sure to read your label first.
Another widely used and highly recommended vaccine aids in the prevention of clinical mastitis caused by E. coli. Mastitis caused by E. coli, often referred to as toxic mastitis, is characterized by watery milk, hard and often warm quarters, and severely ill cows. Cows become infected with E. coli from dirty environments and poor milking procedures. Vaccination significantly decreases the risk and severity of E. coli mastitis. There are several on the market including J-5, J Vac, and Mastergard J5. It is important to give 3 doses 3-4 weeks apart for maximum protection.
Intranasal vaccines, including Nasalgen and TSV2, provide local or surface immunity against the respiratory pathogens IBR and Parainfluenza. These vaccines provide quick, short-lived protection. They are recommended for animals that are being transported or moved to different barns. Some farms also use these vaccines in all newborns.
There are several types of clostridia organisms, including the types that cause tetanus and blackleg. Vaccination is recommended for heifers and for farms that have a blackleg problem. Examples of clostridial vaccines include Covexin 8 and Ultra Choice 7.
For farms that pasture animals in the summer, vaccination for pinkeye can be of benefit. Most vaccines require only one dose initially and an annual booster. Some pinkeye formulations also protect against the clostridial diseases previously mentioned in a combination vaccine. In our experience, the combination vaccine is extremely difficult to administer as is clogs the syringe after only a few doses.
Rabies vaccination is required for all animals that are shown at the fairs and field days. Animals are usually vaccinated anytime after 3 months of age, then annually. Be sure to check the requirements for the show you are interested in to be sure all vaccinations are done and in a timely fashion.
Many more types of vaccines exist, including those for Lepto hardjo, Brucellosis, and calf scours. We have discussed some of the more widely used vaccines in this article to give you a general overview. Depending on the obstacles you face on your particular farm, you may want to implement some of the vaccines discussed in this article and possibly some that weren‘t. Every farm’s protocol needs to be tailored to its own needs. Most importantly, vaccines cannot replace good management. Vaccines can be used as a tool in the prevention of disease, but they are useless without sound animal husbandry practices. If you have questions about which vaccines would be appropriate for your farm, please let us know.
*********************************************************************************************************
Which Vaccines Are Right for Your Dairy Farm
*****************************************************************
There are many different types of vaccines on the market today. Knowing which vaccines to use, what brand, when, and how often can become quite confusing. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the types of vaccines available for dairy cows and how they’re used so that you can decide which vaccines are right for your farm. No one vaccine protocol is right for every farm. There are some basic principles that should be followed. However, management practices, time constraints, and varying disease prevalence among herds require tailoring of vaccine protocols.
Vaccines work by exposing an animal to a minuscule amount of the diseases we are trying to protect them against. When the animal’s immune system recognizes this “foreign material”, it begins to make antibodies against it. Antibodies are proteins in the bloodstream that fight off diseases. If an animal is exposed to a disease it had been adequately vaccinated against, the antibodies it had previously made should be able to quickly conquer the infection and the disease should either be avoided completely or its severity significantly lessened.
Most vaccines are either administered in the muscle (intramuscularly or IM) or under the skin (subcutaneously or SQ). Appropriate IM injection sites include the muscle of the neck just in front of the shoulder blade or the back of the hindleg about a hand’s width below the vulva. Injections given SQ can be administered under the skin in front of or behind the shoulder blade or in the tail head. A few vaccines are given intranasally by squirting a small amount into the animal’s nostril.
All farms should use a 9-way vaccine.
Bull Breeding Soundness Exams Julie E. Kyle, VMD *AABP Breeding Soundness Seminar 2004* Evaluation of breeding soundness includes physical exam, electroejaculation and microscopic examination of semen quality, motility and morphology. ***Excellent Restraint Required*** is sometimes referred to as the vaccine for shipping fever because it protects against many of the viruses involved with pneumonia or shipping fever. These include Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Parainfluenza, and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV). 9-way vaccines also innoculate against Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and 5 different types of Leptospirosis. As discussed in our last newsletter, BVD can cause abortions, malformations, and persistently infected calves. Leptospirosis is a bacteria that can be spread from cow to cow within a herd and can cause low conception rates, early embryonic loss, and abortions. 9-way vaccines are considered either “killed” or “live“. Live vaccines contain preparations of live virus strains of IBR, Parainfluenza, BRSV, and BVD. Animals vaccinated with live vaccines tend to show a larger immune response compared to those vaccinated with killed vaccines. If an animal has not been well vaccinated before, live vaccines used in pregnant animals may cause abortions. However, certain live vaccines can be used in pregnant animals if they were first vaccinated as an open heifer or as an open fresh cow. Be sure to check the label on the vaccine you‘re working with before vaccinating any pregnant animals with a live vaccine. Live 9-way vaccines include Bovi-Shield Gold 5L5 and Titanium 5L5. Killed vaccines contain chemically altered or inactivated strains of IBR, Parainfluenza, and BVD and a live BRSV strain. Killed vaccines can be safely used in pregnant and open animals. Killed 9-way vaccines include Cattlemaster 4L5, Masterguard 10, Elite 9, and Triangle 9. All 9-way vaccines, both killed and live, should initially be given as a 2 shot series approximately 1 month apart. In a well-vaccinated herd, a good time to start this would be at 4 and 5 months of age. Once an animal receives the initial 2 doses, annual re-vaccination is recommended. This can be done annually by the calendar year (such as every spring) or annually at approximately 3-4 weeks post-fresh. Cows that don’t breed back right away may need to receive a 9-way booster to keep them current. As with all vaccines, it is important to avoid vaccinating during times of stress such as freshening, transport, or group changes. Most 9-way vaccines are intramuscular, but be sure to read your label first.
Another widely used and highly recommended vaccine aids in the prevention of clinical mastitis caused by E. coli. Mastitis caused by E. coli, often referred to as toxic mastitis, is characterized by watery milk, hard and often warm quarters, and severely ill cows. Cows become infected with E. coli from dirty environments and poor milking procedures. Vaccination significantly decreases the risk and severity of E. coli mastitis. There are several on the market including J-5, J Vac, and Mastergard J5. It is important to give 3 doses 3-4 weeks apart for maximum protection.
Intranasal vaccines, including Nasalgen and TSV2, provide local or surface immunity against the respiratory pathogens IBR and Parainfluenza. These vaccines provide quick, short-lived protection. They are recommended for animals that are being transported or moved to different barns. Some farms also use these vaccines in all newborns.
There are several types of clostridia organisms, including the types that cause tetanus and blackleg. Vaccination is recommended for heifers and for farms that have a blackleg problem. Examples of clostridial vaccines include Covexin 8 and Ultra Choice 7.
For farms that pasture animals in the summer, vaccination for pinkeye can be of benefit. Most vaccines require only one dose initially and an annual booster. Some pinkeye formulations also protect against the clostridial diseases previously mentioned in a combination vaccine. In our experience, the combination vaccine is extremely difficult to administer as is clogs the syringe after only a few doses.
Rabies vaccination is required for all animals that are shown at the fairs and field days. Animals are usually vaccinated anytime after 3 months of age, then annually. Be sure to check the requirements for the show you are interested in to be sure all vaccinations are done and in a timely fashion.
Many more types of vaccines exist, including those for Lepto hardjo, Brucellosis, and calf scours. We have discussed some of the more widely used vaccines in this article to give you a general overview. Depending on the obstacles you face on your particular farm, you may want to implement some of the vaccines discussed in this article and possibly some that weren‘t. Every farm’s protocol needs to be tailored to its own needs. Most importantly, vaccines cannot replace good management. Vaccines can be used as a tool in the prevention of disease, but they are useless without sound animal husbandry practices. If you have questions about which vaccines would be appropriate for your farm, please let us know.