Vaccination and Preventative Care for Cow/Calf Producers

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Written by: Justin S. Jornigan, DVM ; Foothills Large Animal Hospital, Nebo, NC

Profitable cow/calf herds are most efficiently managed using a controlled breeding season. This allows for a group of calves that can be managed and sold as a group of animals that are a similar size. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to calf production. Some producers are pushing for maximum efficiency and selection of animals by shortening the breeding season and culling any cows or heifers that do not become pregnant within that time period. Regardless of the length of your breeding season, it is recommended that all breeding animals be appropriately vaccinated to prevent delays in cows becoming pregnant, prevent pregnancy loss, and preventing calf death in their early months of life. Additionally, attention must be paid to a good nutrition plan, and parasite management.

All vaccinations should be given according to the label, including all boosters, and appropriate slaughter withholding times.

Why do you vaccinate adult breeding cows?

Vaccination of cows gives them protection from a number of common viruses and bacteria that lead to immune suppression, respiratory disease, systemic illness, and even death. This also improves the quality of their colostrum – the first milk that contains antibodies passed on to her calf. The calf will rely on this protection from its mother until its immune system matures it is old enough to be vaccinated. Vaccination of the breeding bulls prevents them from becoming ill during breeding season and infecting other cows in the herd.

COWS & BULL

  • 45-60 days before breeding season
    1. Vaccinate Open (Non-Pregnant) Cows and Breeding Bulls
      • Modifield Live Respiratory Vaccine – BOVI-SHIELD GOLD FP® 5 L5 HB
      • Clostridial Diseases “Blackleg”:
        CAVALRY® 9 or COVEXIN® 8 are recommended choices as they include tetanus prevention
    2. Deworming
      • Oral dose with VALBAZEN, AND:
      • Pour-On or Injectable (Ivermectin, EPRINEX, or DECTOMAX). Alternatively, LONGRANGE may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
    3. MULTIMIN®90 Injectable
  • 6 months after vaccinating
    1. Pregnancy check cows (typically 3-4 months bred at this point)
    2. Booster bulls and cows Leptospirosis vaccine (SPIROVAC® L5)
    3. Deworming bulls and cows
      • Injectable Cydectin
    4. Delouse bulls and cows (September-October)
      • Clean-Up™ II Pour-On Insecticide with IGR – one time treatment of adult lice and their eggs

PREGNANT COWS OR COWS THAT MAY BE PREGNANT

  1. Vaccination of pregnant cows, potentially pregnant cows:
    • CATTLEMASTER® GOLD FP® 5 L5 (Vira Shield 6+VL5 HB Somnus OR Triangle® 10 are alternative killed products)
    • Clostridial Diseases “Blackleg”:
      CAVALRY® 9 or COVEXIN® 8 are recommended choices as they include tetanus prevention
  2. Deworming:
    • Pour-On or Injectable (IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, or DECTOMAX®). Alternatively, LONGRANGE® may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
  3. MULTIMIN®90 Injectable
  4. 6 months later:
    1. Booster bulls and cows Leptospirosis vaccine (SPIROVAC® L5)
    2. Deworming bulls and cows
      • Pour-On or Injectable (IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, or DECTOMAX®). Alternatively, LONGRANGE® may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
    3. Delouse bulls and cows (September-October)
      • Clean-Up™ II Pour-On Insecticide with IGR – one time treatment of adult lice and their eggs

CALVES

  • If calves are being sold through a pre-conditioning program, all vaccines and preventative care recommendations are provided by the alliance organizing the sale of calves.

Weaning is one of the most stressful points in life for a young animal and is a point in which their immune system is suppressed. To adequately immunize young calves, the group will have to be worked twice. We strongly recommend gathering the calves to work them 2 weeks before weaning, and working them again 14-28 days later after they have been weaned. We recognize that many operations would rather gather all the cows up and work the calves for the first time when they are being weaned. We have provided recommendations for both scenarios.

FOR PRODUCERS WHO WORK CALVES BEFORE WEANING:

  • FIRST WORKING (2 weeks before weaning)
    1. Vaccinate
      • CATTLEMASTER GOLD FP® 5
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®
    2. Deworming
      • VALBAZEN® Oral; AND
      • Pour-On or Injectable (IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, or DECTOMAX®). Alternatively, LONGRANGE® may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
    1. Castrate
    2. Growth implant (optional)
  • SECOND WORKING (14-28 days later after weaning)
    1. Vaccinate
      • BOVI-SHIELD GOLD ONE SHOT®
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®

FOR PRODUCERS WHO CHOOSE TO WORK CALVES FOR THE FIRST TIME AT WEANING OR HAVE PURCHASED THEM AFTER WEANING.

OPTION ONE:

  • First Working (AT WEANING OR AFTER WEANING)
    1. Vaccinate
      • INFORCE™ 3 Intranasal
      • ONE SHOT® BVD
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®
    2. Deworming
      • VALBAZEN® Oral; AND
      • Pour-On or Injectable (IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, or DECTOMAX®). Alternatively, LONGRANGE® may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
    3. Antibiotic Meta-phylaxis will be prescribed by the veterinarian managing your herd. This is usually recommended if calves are purchased and being commingled for the first time. Typically we use a long-acting macrolide, such as DRAXXIN®, ZACTRAN®, or ZUPREVO™ 18%.
  • Second Working (14-28 days later)
    1. Vaccinate
      • BOVI-SHIELD GOLD® 5
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®
    2. MULTIMIN®90 Injectable
    3. Castrate
    4. Growth implant (optional)

OPTION TWO:

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PURCHASED CALVES COMMINGLING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

  • First Working (AT WEANING OR AFTER WEANING)
    1. Vaccinate
      • BOVI-SHIELD GOLD ONE SHOT®
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®
    2. Deworming
      • VALBAZEN® Oral; AND
      • Pour-On or Injectable (IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, or DECTOMAX®). Alternatively, LONGRANGE® may be used in cows, but currently not labeled for breeding bulls.
  • Second Working (14-28 days later)
    1. Vaccinate
      • BOVI-SHIELD GOLD® 5
      • ULTRABAC® 7/SOMUBAC®
    2. MULTIMIN®90 Injectable
    3. Castrate
    4. Growth implant (optional)

The Author

Justin Jornigan

© 2024, Foothills Large Animal Hospital, PLLC.