Cattle producers in the Ozarks went through a period of time where subscribing to pre-weaning vaccination protocols were valued, notably because of how highly they were rewarded at the sale barn. Everyone jumped on board to add value to the calf crop, and, it was a good opportunity – the markets responded, and higher prices were paid for calves that had some guarantee to not get sick once they hit the feedlot. But, as time wore on, some producers became disappointed in the prices they were receiving for preconditioned calves. As Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Livestock Extension Specialist, put it, “They didn’t see those vaccinated calves bringing a great deal more than cost of the vaccines, time and labor. People got disillusioned, and in the mean time we’ve seen cattle bringing higher prices whether they’re vaccinated or not.” And this is a problem.
Cole noted a USDA study that indicated in 2008 about 60 percent of calves were going through some kind of a pre-weaning vaccination program. But since that time, while there are no statistics formally, trends seem to be heading back to producers just pulling the calf straight off its mother and hauling it to the sale barn. “Anything that’s going to bring a darn fancy price – 500 pound calves bringing $2/lb. – producers are saying, ‘I don’t need to vaccinate’,” Cole said.
Cole cited the benefit to the total cattle industry as another important reason to not give up on preconditioning. “On average, having calves on a good health program improves the overall image of cattle,” Cole said.
And then there’s the issue of cattle still getting sick at the feedlot after conditioning. “I hear rumblings from the feedlot sector, that in spite of producers’ efforts at pre-weaning and post-weaning programs, they still have what they consider too high a mortality and morbidity rate.
Dr. Jeremy Powell, Extension Veterinarian with the University of Arkansas, noted that vaccination protocols must be administered correctly to be fully effective.
Powell noted that when administering a vaccine, producers must take into account that there are several factors that can occur that may cause a vaccine to fail leading to no immunization taking place.
“One of the most common causes of vaccination failure is human error. One of the most common mistakes is failure to read the manufacturer’s label and give the product via the recommended route of administration and at the correct dosage, which can lead to vaccine failure. Also, some vaccines require a booster dose after the initial dose when the vaccine is initially introduced into a herd health program.”
Also, he noted, mishandling of a vaccine can also lead to vaccine failure. “Improper storage is damaging to vaccines. Vaccines should be kept at refrigerated temperatures between 35 degrees and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposure to freezing temperatures or to temperatures that exceed the recommended range could leave the vaccine ineffective. It is important to protect the vaccine while at the chute, and during transport, to maintain the ideal temperature. Inadequate mixing of modified-live vaccines, or the use of disinfectants on needles or inside the barrel of pistol-grip syringes can lead to inactivation of modified-live vaccines.”
One of the most harmful diseases to afflict cattle in the feedlot is respiratory disease. It can spread like wildfire, and take out a significant number of what was only recently a healthy pot load of cattle. Powell noted that the most common vaccine for respiratory disease would include a 5-way viral vaccine (IBR, BVDV Type I & II, PI-3, BRSV). Powell said, “All of these viruses can contribute to respiratory illness especially in calves. Producers could also include a vaccine for Mannheimia to aid in controlling BRD.”
Finally, Powell noted that vaccination should not be the total health program at a farm. Other health management should include proper nutrition, parasite control and a simple biosecurity plan for the operation. This echoes Cole’s interest in protecting the image of the cattle industry; a healthy national cattle herd reflects positively on cattle producers across the nation, all the way down to producers in the Ozarks. Maintaining that image is up to us.
