|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 2, 2015 19:00:43 GMT -5
Patti, that's a nice article on the use of MLV vaccines, thanks. Killed virus is clearly the way to go.
Regarding the wart vaccine, I have several with warts, but since I don't show and they generally disappear after a year or so, I have never considered vaccination. Are there any other reasons to vaccinate? Also, are reactions common with that vaccine?
I don't have ideal handling facilities (head gate and corral panels) so I would like to minimize the number of time I run then through the head gate. If I count right, your protocol would call for handling heifers five times between 4 and 11 months. If you don't get a reaction with the initial wart vaccination, could you give the booster at the same time as the boosters for Virashield/Somnus? Also, what is the downside to giving Bangs at the same time as boosters?
Thanks again, I know how much research and thought you put into your operation, so my questions are just to tease out the details and not meant to be in any way arguementative.
Dave
|
|
|
Post by kansasdexters on Apr 2, 2015 19:17:36 GMT -5
Dave,
This is a great discussion, so I'm grateful to share whatever I've learned along the last 11 years. We sometimes give the wart vaccine booster shot, when we have the vet give the Bang's vaccine. Bang's vaccine is a modified live vaccine, and it frequently causes some "stress" for a few days after the heifer is vaccinated. That is why we don't like to give booster vaccinations for the respiratory diseases, pinkeye, or black-leg, at the same time that the vet gives the Bang's vaccine.
We choose to vaccinate our breeding stock for warts, but we don't vaccinate our beef animals for warts. The reason is simple, we want our young, registered breeding stock to be ready to leave our ranch for our buyer's intended use. That use may include being a show animal and animals with warts are frequently ineligible for the show ring. So vaccinating for warts in our weanlings is being proactive for preparing our yearlings for whatever comes their way. Wart vaccine is most effective, if it is given to a young animal before they ever have any warts. That's why you want to vaccinate for warts when calves are between 4 - 6 months old and then booster vaccinate a month later.
Patti
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 2, 2015 23:21:44 GMT -5
Barb, have you been happy with the results using Multimin 90? A guy at the feedstore recommended it and uses it himself, but I have been hesitant to adopt anything else that requires a trip through the head gate This brings up another question, how many give a BOSE (vitamin E and selenium) shot to newborn calves? I haven't done this, but most vets in the area (western Oregon) seem to think it's important. Dave
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Apr 3, 2015 9:23:14 GMT -5
We're supposedly not selenium deficient here, Dahdo, so we don't give it and have never had a hint of white muscle disease (selenium deficiency). (Side Note: I've been told that some dairies routinely give selenium shots to their heifers before calving and that has significantly reduced the mastitis levels in first-calf heifers.) If the vets in your area seem to think it's important, I would be inclined to do it, although I'd probably ask first if they've actually seen cases of white muscle disease or if it's just something "everyone does." When I talked to my main vet the other day, he said we aren't selenium deficient in this area. However, even with no problems, I keep that in the back of my mind in case we ever have a "slow starter." ETA: I want to say again, "A big thank you" to all of you experienced breeders who are so willing to spend your time helping people like me. Figuring out what's best for our cattle is a bit like when we came back to the States after 11 years living in France, where they have about four kinds of cereal stashed in a small space in a huge aisle of their Super Walmart-sized stores. The challenge there is to FIND the cereal. I forgot what America is like, and the first time I went into a grocery store and was faced with the cereal aisle--an enormous array of choices down both sides of a long aisle higher than I could reach--I literally gave up in bewilderment. While it's easy to ignore the Fruit Loops, it's so hard to choose between all the "natural," "fortified," "organic," "high fiber," "no added sugar" labels to get down to one that tastes good and is good for you!
|
|
|
Post by kansasdexters on Apr 3, 2015 10:44:12 GMT -5
Fran -
I noticed that there is a caution given "Do not use in lactating dairy cattle" for the Alpha 7/MB-1 vaccine. If you are milking, or intend to milk, you may want to use something else to booster vaccinate your cows with.
Patti
|
|
|
Post by midhilldexters on Apr 3, 2015 11:12:12 GMT -5
Hi Dave, With regards to BoSe etc., I have read that people are giving their calves shots of this that and the other before they even get up off the ground, it seems to be common practice these days. My theory is if I haven't had trouble in the past with calves getting up and nursing or having energy or..... then why would I shoot them up with anything??
Carol K
|
|
|
Post by legendrockranch on Apr 3, 2015 16:51:31 GMT -5
Dave, we just started using MULTIMIN 90 last year. Our vet suggested it for cattle hair shed off. It can be used for a lot of things, we're just learning about it also. We will start using it again this year on our heifers before breeding. Plus on calves that we will be weaning.
Barb
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 3, 2015 18:48:50 GMT -5
I generally agree with the "if it ain't broke" approach, or "less is more". But I am reevaluating after losing a calf (probable IBR caused abortion) from my best cow this winter. Plus a few of my cows still have faint white spots on their eyes from the pinkeye outbreak in 2013, and I recall all the antibiotics I went through to get it cleared up. All this makes me think a few vaccinations would be cheap insurance.
So this thread has been very helpful. I think I have the information need to put together a Valley Vet order. Thanks everyone!
|
|
|
Post by Pinevalleydexters on Apr 3, 2015 22:43:42 GMT -5
We vaccinate our cows about a month before breeding, we use Ultrabac 8, and Bovisheild Gold L 5L. We did vaccinate for pink eye last year, just as a precaution. There was a lot of pink eye in our area the last two years. We vaccinate our heifers in the fall, after weaning. We use pour on wormers spring and fall. I do dip calves navels with iodine right after birth. Since we feed out loose minerals with selenium year round, I don't vaccinate calves. Ours are born healthy, lively, and are usually up nursing in about 20 minutes after they are born. This has been working out good for us. Cmorey
|
|
|
Post by midhilldexters on Apr 4, 2015 7:53:20 GMT -5
Dave I think if you have some issues developing then yes, nipping it in the bud is a very good policy. Good luck and hope you get a handle on it.
Carol K
|
|
|
Post by RedRidge on Apr 6, 2015 6:15:51 GMT -5
I recommend not making assumptions about selenium levels based on hearsay. Many factors come into play with these levels and they vary a lot from county to county. Because we raise sheep also, we keep a close eye on our copper (which is dangerous for sheep but required by cattle) and selenium (sheep need a high amount) intake and always keep BoSe on hand. Here's a map which may help some of you. mrdata.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html
|
|
|
Post by lonecowhand on Apr 7, 2015 11:18:46 GMT -5
That's a great resource, Thanks Sheri. For those who haven't pulled it up, if you click your mouse on your county, you'll get a table of 14 elements and their concentration for your county.
Thanks all you all for the very useful experience and info, and zepherhill Susan for starting this one!
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 7, 2015 16:05:23 GMT -5
The USGS data may or may not be a good indication of how much selenium is in your forage. I've uploaded the USGS map image showing selenium for the Pacific Northwest. It shows a mixed bag for Oregon. The other map is from a study done in 1968 in which they sampled selenium in forage. This map shows very low concentrations in western Oregon were selenium and other minerals are leached out of the soil by high rainfall rates. The rest of the state is low too, but forage Se levels are consistently higher. The reason the USGS map may not represent selenium in forage is that the data are primarily from streambed sediment samples, not farm soils. If you are concerned about selenium and other trace minerals, I suggest either a) have your forage analyzed, and/or b) have the serum levels of your animals tested.
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 7, 2015 16:06:54 GMT -5
oops, here is the USGS map Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on Apr 7, 2015 16:07:28 GMT -5
Here is the forage selenium map Attachments:
|
|