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Vaccinations, Johnes, BVD-PI, TB, etc.

Vaccines 2018

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T O P I C R E V I E W
maryjane	Posted - Apr 14 2018 : 09:08:40 AM Charlene, you asked what I was using currently to vaccinate my cows and calves. When my calves are close to weaning, I give them Pasteurella (plus booster 4 weeks later). They also get Vira Shield 6+VLS and Vision (plus boosters 4 weeks later). I administer in different sites around their body and write where I did it so I can observe reactions (oil-based vaccines tend to give bigger lumps). One year later, they get a booster of the Vira Shield and Vision but not the Pasteurella (just for calves). My heifers and cows/bulls/steers get Vira Shield and Vision boosters annually. I buy them from Valley Vet (on ice Next Day Air) and keep them refrigerated and on ice in a cooler during vaccination clinics. Every time we penetrate the top of a vial, we swab good with alcohol. We administer ourselves (not on bulls--they go to the vet for hoof trims and I bring my vaccines along in a cooler so they can be administered while the bull is on the tilt table). The vet does Bang's because only a vet can do Bang's. Manufacturers change their vaccines routinely so every year I read the manufacturer's text on Valley Vet's information pages to wade through what each one protects against. I sometimes ask to speak with their in-house vet. I prefer killed vaccines over live, and I always make sure it can be used on pregnant or lactating cows. I don't vaccinate a cow until she's in her two-month dried off period because sometimes it hits milk production. Also, that way, her calf is born with protection until they're old enough for vaccines.
2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
maryjane	Posted - Jun 27 2018 : 05:46:52 AM Here 'tis again with a bit more information: I purchase my vaccines online from Vally Vet. They have a good set-up for shipping them next day air. Depending on the time of year, I sometimes pay a tad more for extra ice. Last year (and this year) I used Vision 8 Somnus and Vira Shield 6 + VLS. I spend a fair amount of time reading up on vaccines every year because they're constantly changing. I always look for killed vaccines and SQ (which I think makes it easier to administer). I also look for those that are safe for pregnant or lactating cows. And I look for those that aren't oil based. They seem to have larger lumps with oil-based. I like to give them shots around 3 months and then boosters per a vaccine's instructions (found on Vally Vet under manufacturer's spec sheet which also tells you what diseases they protect against). This year, one of the shots needed a booster at 3-4 weeks and the other 4-5 weeks, so O'Mally and Buttercup with get them again at 4 weeks. Once they get to feeling better after their boosters, it's time to wean them. O'Mally was back in business today, running and leaping and acting like a kid again. For my grown-up girls and guys, they only need them once/year thereafter. I prefer giving them to my pregnant girls immediately after drying them off during the two months before they calve. That way it doesn't affect milk production and the calf is born with protection. Normally, I also give my calves a 3rd vaccine called Mannheimia Haemolytical Pasturella Multocida Bacterin but this year the company that makes it, Colorado Serum, has it backordered due to demand. They said they'd contact me when it's in stock again. I always clean the tops of the bottles with alcohol after each use and make sure it's on ice the entire time. I don't like having a vet do vaccines because I never know how old the vaccines are and if they've been kept chilled the entire time. I've seen bottles set in the sun while vaccinating and brought onsite without being on ice. If I'm going to poke my cows and cause the occasional lump--generally they call for 2 ml (2 cc) to 5 ml (5 cc), I want to make sure they're getting properly cared-for vaccines. I use an 18 gauge needle and a 6 ml/cc syringe. Basically, I vaccinate for BVD, Black Leg, Leptospirosis, etc. (the stuff listed in my book) and you should never bring a cow or goat onto the premises without first testing for Q-fever, BLV, and Johne's because they can't be vaccinated against those (also Bang's and TB).
CloversMum	Posted - Apr 14 2018 : 8:49:19 PM Thank you, MaryJane, for this information. I appreciate it!