Scott Poock, specialist with veterinary medical extension and continuing education for the University of Missouri, recommended the four basic respiratory/reproductive viruses (BVD, IBR, BRSV, and PI-3), leptospirosis, and E. coli (for mastitis and scours) vaccinations for dairy cows. “Certainly, there are some farms where other vaccines might be added depending on the diseases encountered on the farm and the management practices,” Poock added.
“I can remember the time early in my practice career when we did not have the “J5” vaccines,” Poock said. “We lost cows to toxic mastitis, especially during any hot and wet conditions. After the advent of the J5 vaccines, cows might still get mastitis but at least they did not die and responded to treatment well. E. coli also causes scours in the calf. However, it is a different E. coli than that which causes mastitis.”
Jeremy Powell, associate professor and veterinarian for the University of Arkansas’ Department of Animal Science, added that replacement heifers should receive a Brucellosis (Bang’s) vaccination between four to 12 months of age.
When it comes to the younger stock, calves through pregnant heifers, they will have their own vaccination program in place. “Some of the vaccines for the cow are applicable to the young stock as well, BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI-3, and lepto,” Poock said. “Along with the previous, a clostridium 7-way, manheimia, +/- pinkeye vaccines are common in the protocols for the younger animals.”
Powell reminded producers that a vaccination program alone shouldn’t be considered your complete herd health program.
“The vaccination program should be viewed as an important part of an effective health management plan that would also include proper nutrition, parasite control and a simple biosecurity plan for the operation,” Powell said. “A general concern of some producers is whether or not the costs of implementing a vaccine program are justified by disease prevention. Avoiding a potential health disaster in your cattle operation validates the cost. In other words, the costs of a disease outbreak will far exceed the price of disease prevention.”
Regarding storage and use of leftover vaccinations and tools, if the producer uses a modified live vaccine, any leftover vaccine needs to be discarded they same day it was mixed together. “Killed vaccines may be put back in the refrigerator and reused,” Poock said. “Prior to use, all vaccines MUST be refrigerated. If vaccines are not stored correctly, they can become ineffective.”
Keeping good records is also vital to a good herd health program.
According to Poock, the vaccination program is typically written in a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Therefore, the giving of a vaccine may not be entered into a cow’s file. However, this is different for the use of a medication. Any time a medication is used, it will be recorded in the cow’s file, so there is not a chance of adulterating the milk.
Both of these experts recommend that producers work closely with their veterinarian when making decisions about their vaccination program.
