Routine vaccinations: What do you use?

[zephyrhillsusan]

I know that some members here don't vaccinate, and I respect your decisions, but the answers I'm interested are from people who do.   I've had to use several different vets over the years, and they each seem to use different vaccines.  I tried to research what's available, but so far all I've found is a list of all the diseases, not a list of the various vaccines and which ones cover what diseases.  There are so many choices out there it's a bit bewildering.  Apart from Blackleg, I've found that the vets tend to vaccinate for different things.  I've had to specifically request pinkeye and Bangs.  It's a lot simpler for our dogs, as there seems to be some sort of consensus among vets, plus my dog vet is great on education and communication.  So is my (exclusively) equine vet.  Our local bovine vets, for the most part, don't seem inclined to offer "Well, here are your choices and what I'd recommend."   So if you assume there is a "standard protocol" and unless you know what to ask for, if you just say "Come vaccinate my animals," you get potluck depending on the vet.

I would like to be more proactive and informed in this area.  So as a starting point, would you be willing to share--by name brand--what you use?  That would help others like me be able to do research more easily to compare possibilities, as opposed to just googling "cattle vaccines."  

NOTE: Can I request in advance that those of you who don't vaccinate please start a new thread on why you DON'T vaccinate?  Thanks!

[kansasdexters]

Here's what we've been doing for the past several years:

For breeding stock and prospective breeding stock (cows, bulls, heifers):

Initial vaccinations, typically given around 4-5 months old:
Novartis Virashield 6 + VL5 HB Somnus - 5 mL IM, given in left side of neck
Merck 20/20 Vision 7 - 2 mL SQ, given in right side of neck

2 weeks later, we give them Colorado Wart vaccine, 5 mL SQ on left side of neck and 5 mL SQ on right side of neck, total injection of 10 mL per animal.

4 to 6 weeks after initial vaccinations, we booster vaccinate the Virashield 6 + VL5 HB Somnus and 20/20 Vision 7.

2 weeks later, we booster vaccinate the Wart vaccine on calves under 1 year old.

We OCV (Official Calfhood Vaccination, aka "Bang's vaccination") all our heifers between 5 and 11 months of age. This vaccine is usually given several weeks after all the other vaccines have been given and not at the same time as any of the other vaccines.


The following pre-breeding, annual booster vaccinations are given to cows either right before calving or within a week after calving (depending on when we have the time to do it, the cows will typically be serviced by the bull about 45 to 60 days after they have been booster vaccinated):
Novartis Virashield 6 + VL5 HB Somnus - 5 mL IM, given in left side of neck
Merck 20/20 Vision 7 - 2 mL SQ, given in right side of neck

For non-breeding stock (steers and cull heifers), the following initial vaccinations are given at 4-5 months:
Novartis Virashield 6 + Somnus - 5 mL IM, given in left side of neck
Merck 20/20 Vision 7 - 2 mL SQ, given in right side of neck

4 to 6 weeks after initial vaccinations, we booster vaccinate with Virashield 6 + Somnus and 20/20 Vision 7.

We do not normally revaccinate our beef prospects that are older than 12 months.

By limiting the number of injections given to a single injection on each side of the neck, each time the animal is vaccinated, you will be able to determine if any animal has a specific sensitivity to any specific vaccine. That way, you can avoid using that vaccine on that animal, if there was an adverse reaction to it. That's why we always put the vaccine in on one side or the other and we know which vaccine went in on which side of the neck.


Patti

[emgiger]

Very informative and descriptive post Patty. Our vaccination schedule is almost identical to Patty's with the exception of timing. We always use a new needle for each animal and always alternate the side of the neck with every shot. In addition, we deworm twice per year and potentially a third time during lice season.

Eileen

[legendrockranch]

Pretty much the same routine. We use Vira Shield 6 VL5 HB, but use Merck Vision 8 Somnus with SPUR instead.
Worm twice a year and rotate between Safeguard and Cydectin. Thinking about switching over to the shots though.
Last year we also started using MULTIMIN 90, but don't have a schedule for how we use it
Ear fly tags twice a year, we rotate between a Diazinon and Zetacypermethrin based tags
Bangs vaccination, done by the vet. Everything else is done by us.

Susan I would also suggest you talk with others in your area to find out what if anything else might be a problem. For instance some may vaccinate for pinkeye, we do not since we've never had a case of it.

I highly recommend that any breeding bull be Trichomoniasis tested before any movement (not literally)to another place is made. If your state doesn't require it now it soon might. Plus it's better to safe than sorry.


Barb

[kansasdexters]

We also use a fresh needle for every animal and with every vaccine (no "double-dipping" into the vaccine bottle). We also use an injectible wormer (Dectomax injectible) on all the calves at about 6 months of age, and Eprinex Pour-on on their dams, so that everyone in a herd grouping gets treated for parasites on the same day or by the next day.

Patti

[burntforkdexters]

Patti can you explain why you use a injectable wormer on the calves and a pour on wormer for the dams. I thought I heard the pour ons are not as effective as the injectables. Thank You don

[kansasdexters]

Don,

We use an injectable wormer (Dectomax injectable) on the calves because they are still with their dams, and the dams would lick off a pour-on wormer before it could do any good for the calves. Since the calves are less than 350 lb, the injectable wormer dose is a very small amount (3 mL) and it effectively controls both internal and external parasites. Calves tend to have heavier worm loads compared with cows, so the pour-on (Eprinex) that is used on the cows, is actually intended more for controlling any external parasites. We follow-up the Eprinex pour-on treatment for the cows, with Safeguard pellets, prior to moving the cows to a fresh pasture area.


Patti

[Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk]

FYI, one reason we (mostly) don't vaccinate on our farm, is that we're trying to breed for natural resistance to disease while doing a thorough job of rotational grazing (keeping pastures cleaner). But in doing this, you have to be willing to accept the risk of some losses. Unless you're good at risk-taking and can afford some losses, vaccination is a good idea. We also rarely de-worm, to let any poor performers and parasite-prone animals stand-out for culling. But this can be more risky in some parts of the country than other parts. There is a genetic component to disease and parasite resistance and you can select for genetically stronger animals if you're willing to risk it.


PS. I take lots of vaccinations for myself, because I'm not willing to cull myself if I have a genetically weak immune system (or just have some bad luck).

[midhilldexters]

I'm not anti vaccinating at all, I just started off wanting to have beef that was as natural as possible.
I think this is my 14th year having Dexters, other than one going to Canada none have shots of any kind. I don't dip navels either. I've been lucky not to have any issues ( I feel I am jinxing myself now) no pink eye, no nothing. I also have sheep, it would seem most shepherds medicate and worm more than cattle people, my sheep haven't even received any shots.
If there was some major outbreak of something in our county, I wouldn't have an issue about giving a shot, and my new neighbors across the street are Amish, that may change my point of view very quickly also. If I showed I would give shots, if I brought in a lot of animals I would give shots.

Carol K

[Fran]

Susan,

Per our vet, we use Triangle 10 by Boehringer Ingelheim and 20/20 Vision 7 w/spur by Merck. We also use Eprinex pour-on twice a year (fall/spring). We normally vaccinate in the fall, calves are vaccinated at weaning unless buyer requests they not be. We are planning to switch to Alpha-7/MB-1 this year instead of the 20/20. We've had no problems with these.

[Dahdo]

This thread is very helpful, thanks Susan for starting it. I have decided to start doing routine vaccinations (due to pink eye outbreaks and a most likely IBR-caused abortion) and have also found it difficult to come up with a good protocol that includes product and scheduling. Even after several requests, my otherwise very good vet, hasn't supplied me with the specific information I need.

Can anyone talk about considerations for someone just starting a vaccination program? Such as, I have read that using a modified live virus (MLV) might be advantageous for cows that have never been vaccinated because it imparts a quicker more long lasting immune response. Virashield is a killed virus, safe for pregnant cows, but would it be wise to use a MLV after calving in my situation?

[kansasdexters]

Dave,

I've avoided using the "one-shot wonder" MLV vaccines because of the following concerns:

1. Modified live vaccines are actually live virus that have been "inactivated", but not killed. After a female (or calf) is vaccinated with some of these combo modified live vaccines, they will shed virus particles in their urine, mucous membranes, and manure for weeks afterwards. That's why they aren't safe around pregnant cows or used on calves that are nursing pregnant cows. Accidental exposure of naive pregnant cows to females (or calves) that have been vaccinated with these "hot" vaccines can result in abortions. Many MLV vaccines are typically used on steers and feeder heifers, and not on breeding stock.

2. Modified live vaccines may cause more severe adverse reactions in sensitive individual animals. You won't know until you vaccinate an animal if it has sensitivities, so vaccinating a naive animal with a "hot" vaccine is taking a greater risk than if you used killed vaccines for the first vaccinations.

If you want to start vaccinating, just give a killed virus vaccination, and follow the instructions for giving a booster vaccination to assure optimal immune response. Most booster vaccinations are given about 4 weeks after the initial vaccination, and then just annually after that time.


Patti

[zephyrhillsusan]

This is all very helpful. Unfortunately, my vet(s) is/are proving to be less than informative and helpful, so I'm having to figure this out on my own and keep track of it myself. All this input is great. I spoke to my vet today, and he doesn't routinely recommend vaccinating for BLV, BVD, etc. partly because of the area we live in (think farmers who throw a bunch of cattle in a field and leave them be : and because we have a closed herd.  (Well, it is now, but hasn't always been, so technically it's not, IMO.)  He suggested just vaccinating animals we might want to ship, like heifers because we might potentially sell them.  I'm not sure I 100% agree with him.

I talked to him about doing testing for BVD, Johnes, and BLV.  I plan to start there.  When he comes out to do the TB test after Ebony freshens, I'll get him to show me how to draw blood.  In future I'd like to do it myself.  Antelbio does those 3 tests in a bundle, $13.50 for all three, either blood, milk or tissue sample.  I already have their milk tubes with preservative for ELISA pregnancy testing, and I have some red-topped vials for the blood.  My plan is to get everyone tested: bull, 2 cows (one born here, one bought in 2013), the steer we bought in 2013, and our steer who was born here.  Then I'll know where we stand.  (I'm open to other thoughts on this.) 

Our older steer is due to be butchered this fall, so I don't see any point in adding to the 20/20 Vision 7 he already got.  But for the others, I'll go ahead and cover the "big guns."

[kansasdexters]

Here's another reason not to use Modified Live Vaccine in breeding stock, especially for IBR:
farmprogress.com/story-stop-using-modified-live-vaccines-breeding-cattle-14-64594

[kansasdexters]

Susan,

You cannot vaccinate to prevent BLV (Bovine Leukosis Virus). If you test an entire herd for BLV, you will probably find that about half of the cattle will test positive for antibodies to this virus. Once they test positive, they will continue to test positive. Animals that test negative, should be re-tested the next year, because they may become positive. Most cattle that carry this virus are completely asymptomic and will never show signs of the disease condition. A small percentage of BLV positive cattle will develop tumors and die from the disease before they are 8 years old.

To establish a BLV-free herd, you have to cull any animals that test positive, and test any animals that you plan to bring into your herd. Then, you have to re-test the entire herd annually for several years and basically have a closed herd (no new animals introduced)in order to maintain BLV-free status.

We have found that the BLV screening test (an ELISA test) frequently gives false positive results for Kerry cattle, so we test our Kerries and Dexters using the PCR method, which is a much more expensive test, but it is the definitive test for BLV. PCR testing for BLV costs about $50 per animal. Very few Dexter herds are willing to spend the money for this type of testing on a regular basis, because the market price for registered Dexter cattle simply does not support the cost of this testing and culling, especially in large herds.

I guarantee that if you test all of your Dexter cattle, you will find some that will test positive for BLV. The PCR test for BLV looks for the actual DNA signature of the virus, so it is the definitive "Gold Standard" test to use if you really want to establish a BLV-free herd. But realize that most Dexter herds are not BLV-free, so if you sell your cattle to others that have not tested as BLV-free herds, then your cattle can become exposed to BLV and infected at some point in their life.

Here is a good reference article on BLV: www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1996/winter/blv.shtml