Vaccinating Dairy Cattle
David C. Welch, VMD
White Oak Veterinary Clinic
Vaccinating Dairy Cattle
A few years ago about this time of the year a young hard
working client, Mark, had a dairy herd with a variety of vac
cination needs. As with most herds, Mark’s cows needed im
munity against BVD, IBR, BRSV, Pl 3 and Lepto. In
addition Mark’s cattle had experienced a Salmonella out
break and he had mastitis. Blackleg had been a problem his
torically on this farm. The question arose as how to best
vaccinate Mark’s herd.
Mark is a real go-getter. Right now it is maple sugar
season in Somerset County. Mark’s family taps about 3,000
trees. Mark’s herd of cows is milked three times a day with
Mark occasionally milking both the evening and morning
shifts. The ground is drying out now and the manure stor
age needs emptied, chisel plowing needs done, and it
wouldn’t be right if anybody else would sow small grains
before Mark had cleaned and put the grain drill away.
It was against this setting that I approached Mark about
vaccinating calves at two different times, vaccinating cows
twice during the dry period, once shortly after calving and
again before breeding, and boosting with Lepto after the di
agnosis of pregnancy was made.
When I explained these needs to Mark, he got real se
rious, "Doc, what are you talking about? When am I going
to get all this done? All I’m going to get done is vaccinating
cows.”
I tried to reason with Mark, but I realized his mind was
more on the roller harrow. Don the farm employee was
taking to the field and not interested in the vaccination pro
gram. I explained there was a need to spread out the vacci
nation program so we could maximize immunity and reduce
stress on the cattle.
“Why can’t we just give all these at one time?” Mark
asked almost ignoring all I had said. Now Mark had a smile
on his face, I knew he was listening.
“And I guess you want it just once in her life?” I added in
jest.
“Yea, and I want it to be in a pill; I don’t like those
shots,” said Mark.
Mark’s dilemma about vaccinating cows is typical of
many cattle owners, how to get the best immunity with the
fewest times through the chute.
What to vaccinate against varies from farm to farm, as
does the way cattle are managed. Vaccination programs
should be tailored for each farm depending on the immuno
logical needs, handling facilities and management regimen
of the farm. One vaccination program doesn’t fit all.
What diseases should you consider vaccinating against?
Any vaccination program should be designed to protect
against the most threatening of diseases first with the less
important diseases considered last. BVD (Bovine Virus Di
arrhea) can put a person out of business. We need to con
sider it first. Warts probably won’t cause a farm auction, so
I wouldn’t worry too much about wart vaccine.
1. BVD can cause catastrophic loss of life in the milking
herd as well as the insidious loss of life through early em
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CONSOLIDATED
NUTRITION.Io
Committed to Excellence in Animal Nutrition
To us a commitment to excellence in Animal Nutrition
means:
• A Research Group which rivals most University’s
• Maintaining the largest group of rumen and
duodenally canulated research cows.
• Field proven proprietary ration balancing program
• A highly trained and technical sales staff.
• Technical expertise close by and readily available.
Meet Dr. Don
Jaquette
Senior Dairy
Nutritionist
Consolidated
Nutrition
Dr. Jaquette is a graduate of North Carolina State
University and has been with Consolidated Nutrition
since 1987. He was instrumental in the research and
development of the Protek, Aminotek, AIM and the new
UItraBALANCE 2000 dairy feed product lines. Dr.
Jaquette has relocated to the Camp Hill market area
and is working closely with Consolidate Nutrition
dealers and District Managers to better serve the local
dairy industry.
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