Herd Health

[hcrc]

What do you consider your health program to be for your herd? I’ve heard guys who have a full vaccination program to guys who only give the minimum to calves and don’t touch the cows. Would it be pertinent as a seed stock provider to make sure your herd is fully vaccinated? Just making some discussion! Like to hear your thoughts.

[soherf]

We fully vaccinate because we have cattle moving in and out of the herd often for a myriad of reasons. I also do not know what the neighbor has in his herd or if he's vaccinated so I protect what's under my management. If I don't have the profit in the animal to make this pencil out then I was going to lose money anyway. Treating one is more expensive than vaccinating dozens.

[strojanherefords]

Over the past 25 years, in spite of all the new vaccines and technologies that we have, feedlot mortality has doubled over the past 25 years. I feel that a major factor in this loss of health is that genetics have gotten weaker and that the same companies that sell vaccines also sell antibiotics.
When I vaccinate I am very conscious of not overwhelming my calves immune system and doing more harm than good. I wait to brand and give the first round of shots until after the calves are 90 days old. At branding they get a 4 way modified live respiratory and an 8-way blackleg with red water. At preweaning, I booster with a 4 way mlv respiratory that also has shipping fever protection and a seven way black leg with pinkeye. I feel at that time the calves have already are bigger and have already seen the core vaccines once so I am comfortable using broader vaccines. For cows, they get a shot of virashield 6VL5 at preg check. I follow a rule of never giving more than two shots at a time. When I have a pistol syringe in each hand, I can be sure with out looking that I am vaccinating each calf properly.

[fivestarherefords]

Aug 16, 2021 20:29:12 GMT -6 strojanherefords said:

Over the past 25 years, in spite of all the new vaccines and technologies that we have, feedlot mortality has doubled over the past 25 years. I feel that a major factor in this loss of health is that genetics have gotten weaker and that the same companies that sell vaccines also sell antibiotics.
When I vaccinate I am very conscious of not overwhelming my calves immune system and doing more harm than good. I wait to brand and give the first round of shots until after the calves are 90 days old. At branding they get a 4 way modified live respiratory and an 8-way blackleg with red water. At preweaning, I booster with a 4 way mlv respiratory that also has shipping fever protection and a seven way black leg with pinkeye. I feel at that time the calves have already are bigger and have already seen the core vaccines once so I am comfortable using broader vaccines. For cows, they get a shot of virashield 6VL5 at preg check. I follow a rule of never giving more than two shots at a time. When I have a pistol syringe in each hand, I can be sure with out looking that I am vaccinating each calf properly.

I hope you’re changing needles in that pistol syringe.

[strojanherefords]

Any benefit of changing needles after every cow is outweighed by the increased risk of having a person stick themselves with a needle.

[fivestarherefords]

Aug 22, 2021 18:14:36 GMT -6 strojanherefords said:

Any benefit of changing needles after every cow is outweighed by the increased risk of having a person stick themselves with a needle.

You okay with the same needle as the guy ahead of you in line for a COVID shot?

[soherf]

Needles are cheap and dull quickly going through cow hide. I preload baggies labeled with the animal's info and all their shots/tags/TSU tube/blood tubes/etc. When that animal hits the chute the bag comes out of the cooler and we know what's happening. All your record keeper has to do is verify the ID of the animal and hand you syringes/taggers/TSU guns/test tubes. All of the info is already recorded so you just need to double check as it goes out. It doesn't work for everyone and every situation but it works for our locations and our customers.