Lost steer today - tetanus

[thegoodag]

Had to put down a 9 month old steer this am. He was fine last night, muscling in to get his share of the cubes but this am he was down and had no control of limbs. Vet was in the area making rounds and he diagnosed tetanus, stiffness of muscles and no fever. This calf was castrated at the vets office 7 days ago with a full round of shots. Cut was healed over nicely. Vet told me in 25yrs of practice in this area this is his second case.

With this loss and the one I lost in calving in October I'm going to be real low on beef in 2015. Looking for some replacement steers in the area around Houston.

[zephyrhillsusan]

I'm so very sorry! What a sad thing to happen. It sounds like you did everything right with the shots and all, and it seems to be just some kind of freak occurrence, but that's not much comfort, is it?

[kansasdexters]

We all learn from our mistakes, so this loss should not be overlooked as a learning opportunity. If the 9-month old steer had just received his first round of vaccinations (including a tetanus toxoid vaccination) at the time he was castrated, then none of those shots would have had enough time in his system to develop much of an immune response by the 7-day mark. Most vaccinations take at least 14 days to develop a proper immune response, some longer. If he had not received a tetanus toxoid vaccination and a Blackleg 7-way vaccination previously, and then booster vaccinations at the time he was castrated, he would have been vulnerable to disease organisms.

If castration is done at the same time that vaccinations are done, then it should be done when the booster round of vaccinations are given, and not when the first round of vaccinations are given. If the animal is getting his first tetanus toxoid vaccination at the time he is being castrated or dehorned, then he should also receive a tetanus anti-toxin injection. The tetanus anti-toxin shot provides the short-term protection (for the first 7-10 days) necessary, before the tetanus toxoid vaccination can develop a sufficient immune response level (at about 12 to 14 days).

Vaccinations do not provide immediate protection, they require time to develop the animal's immune response to the target organisms. That's why most vaccinations require a booster round at 4 to 6 weeks after the initial vaccinations are given. Performing procedures which can introduce disease organisms (i.e. castration, dehorning) requires special attention to this limitation.

Patti

[dexterlady]

Hello thegoodag, I am sorry for your lost...It is always hard to lose an animal, no matter what the circumstances... But Like Patty said, learn a lesson from it...I am a firm believer in keeping up vaccinations and worming...I have a little steer to revaccinate tomorrow.... I hope you have better luck with your next calves....Good luck to you....Donna J.

[jlmissouri]

I am curious, did you band him or how was he castrated? I have only done one steer and we used the surgical method, which it kinda sounds like that is the route you went from the post.

[dexterlady]

thegoodag, I have two dexter steers I will be selling...One is 10 months , other is months right now...If interested please pm me for prices...Thanks

[thegoodag]

Yes, it was a surgical castration. Same procedure we have done multiple times over the last several years. Vet also did another 4 month old calf at same time with no problems.

[lavacaw]

I have one that is 15 months old that I would like to sell. PM me for prices...I am southeast of Hallettsville (two hours away from you).
wanda