Livestock Management RANCHING
Calf Vaccinations Support Productivity T
HE PROTECTION OF A CALF CROP REALLY STARTS WITH A good health program for the cow herd. The cow is responsible for protecting her calf, fi rst in the
uterus and then for the fi rst 2 to 3 months of life. Antibodies in the mother’s colostrum are absorbed
into the calf’s system in the fi rst 48 hours of life and protect the calf for the next several weeks. A cow herd managed under a good herd health and vaccination program benefi ts the newborn calves. Vaccines in the cow herd health program might
include protection against diseases such as scours from E. coli, rota and corona viruses, clostridium type C and D, pneumonia diseases, infectious bovine rhi- notracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) and parainfl uenza 3 (PI3).
First vaccinations At branding, or 2 to 3 months of age, the calves can
be started on their own health and vaccination program. The fi rst vaccines introduce the calf’s immune system to the diseases they’ll most likely encounter over the next year or so of life. The more an animal is exposed to disease, either
through vaccination or Mother Nature, the better the immune system develops to protect that calf. Consider exposing your calves to controlled disease with a vac-
52 The Cattleman September 2014
cination program before Mother Nature gets the chance to expose the calf to pathogenic diseases that can often cause sickness and death. A thorough vaccination program includes protec-
tion against diseases that have been discussed in this column since January: Clostridia Histophilus somni Mannheimia haemolytica Pasteurella multocida IBR BVD PI3 Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) Vaccines for all of these diseases may be safely given
to calves nursing cows that are still open. Certain vac- cines may transfer from the calf to the cow for about 10 days after vaccination. If the cow has been recently bred, this exposure may cause the cow to abort the fetus. Protect early pregnancies by making sure the vaccines used on calves won’t cause abortions.
Next stages – pre-weaning, weaning and preconditioning If you decide not to vaccinate 2- to 3-month-old calves, consider the value of vaccinating the calves
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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