See the cow-calf operation vaccines that are recommended in a publication put together by the University of Missouri Extension.
In our last pair of blogs, we’ve shared different types of vaccines for livestock and tips for protecting the efficacy of your livestock vaccines. We round out this blog series with the cow-calf operation vaccines recommended in a publication by MU Extension. See the recommendations below.
Cow-Calf Operation Vaccines
The publication shared that “Vaccine programs used in breeding animals primarily focus on preventing diseases that lead to reproductive losses, such as embryonic death, abortion and stillbirths. Vaccinating breeding females also boosts antibodies in colostrum, helping protect newborn calves from disease during the first few months of life. In calves, vaccination programs primarily focus on preventing respiratory disease (pneumonia) and clostridial diseases such as Blackleg.”
It recommends the following cow-calf operation vaccines:
“Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
This virus can cause reproductive losses in cows and respiratory problems in calves. In pregnant cows, it can lead to abortions, typically after four months of gestation but potentially at any stage. In calves, IBR contributes to respiratory disease outbreaks, causing fever, lethargy, heavy nasal discharge, and open-mouth breathing. It may also cause eye inflammation and cloudiness or neurologic signs, which may or may not occur alongside respiratory disease.
Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Type 1 & 2
BVDV affects cattle in a variety of ways. In pregnant animals, it can cause embryonic death, abortions, congenital defects, or result in persistently infected (PI) calves depending on the stage of gestation. BVDV also suppresses the immune system and plays a role in respiratory disease outbreaks in calves.
Herds with ongoing BVDV problems usually have PI animals. The formation of a PI occurs during a specific window of gestation, typically between 40 to 125 days, when the fetal immune system is still developing. If the fetus is infected with a non-cytopathic strain of BVDV during this time, this virus may be mistakenly recognized as normal. Consequently, the immune system fails to respond against the virus resulting in a life-long infection. PI animals shed large amounts of virus continuously but can appear outwardly normal, posing an ongoing risk to other animals in the herd.
Because PI animals are so detrimental, the standard recommendation in herds where BVDV is suspected is to implement a testing strategy and remove any PI animals detected. Vaccination alone cannot counter the effects PI animals can have.
Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)
BRSV plays a role in respiratory disease outbreaks, especially in calves. It specifically targets the lower respiratory tract and predisposes the animal to secondary bacterial infection, often worsening the respiratory symptoms and prognosis.
Parainfluenza (PI3)
This virus causes mild to moderate respiratory disease in calves. It primarily targets the upper respiratory tract and increases the risk of a secondary bacterial infection, exacerbating the symptoms.
Leptospirosis
This bacterial disease that can cause embryonic loss, abortions, stillbirths or weak born calves. Abortions may occur early in gestation, but more often occur in the third trimester. Vaccine programs for breeding animals typically include a “5-way Lepto” product which protects against multiple strains of the bacteria: L. hardjo, L. pomona, L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. grippotyphosa.
Campylobacter fetus (Vibriosis)
This causes a venereal disease which leads to infertility, early embryonic death and, less commonly, abortion in breeding females. Producers may notice cows being bred multiple times before becoming pregnant. While most cows eliminate the infection, a few will maintain it through gestation, deliver a normal calf and then infect bulls in the next breeding season. Bulls then transmit the organisms to other cows during the mating season, perpetuating the disease cycle.
Clostridial diseases
There are a variety of diseases in cattle that are caused by Clostridial bacteria. Some of the common diseases producers are familiar with are Blackleg, Redwater and Tetanus. Symptoms vary depending upon the species of bacteria and organ system affected but in general, clostridial diseases progress so rapidly that producers will often find animals dead rather than showing symptoms of illness.
Vaccines against clostridial diseases are commonly referred to as 7-way, 8-way, or 9-way. A 7-way vaccine should be considered the starting point. However, if diseases such as Redwater (caused by Clostridium haemolyticum) or Tetanus (caused by Clostridium tetani) are a concern, an 8-way or 9-way vaccine is required.”
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