1. Vaccination Programs for Beef Cow/Calf Operations
Dr. Michelle Arnold
Ruminant Extension Veterinarian
University of Kentucky

2. Nutritional Reminder Calf health begins at conception!
Shorting the cow out nutritionally (protein, energy and trace mineral) during any of the 283 days of gestation can negatively impact the fetus and make it more susceptible to disease after birth

3. Aim is to prevent the most common diseases as well as enhance colostrum
REQUIRED VACCINES
Clostridials
7-way (<2 yrs)
Blackleg
Respiratory
(5-way)
4-way
Virals
Reproductive
5-way
Lepto
Vibrio
Cows Need Annually
Hardjo-Bovis is the most common
HB=Lepto Hardjo-Bovis
Treat for internal and external parasites

4. What is BVD?
One of the most important and most complicated viral diseases in beef and dairy cattle worldwide
Two broad types of infection based on transmission:
Transient Infection (TI)
Persistent Infection (PI)
A third type is not widely publicized: CI or “Congenital Infection”-fetuses that produce BVDV specific antibodies by 130 days of gestation.
They can get acutely sick twice as often as unaffected-probably due to immunosuppression

5. PI development Persistently Infected Carriers (PI’s)
93% of all PI’s produced this way
1 – 4 months gestation
Calf
Infection
PI’s produce PI’s 100% of the time
BVD Virus
Courtesy of Dr. John Pickering

6. What does it do?
Effects on fertility

7. Infection early in pregnancy = failure to conceive

8. Early embryonic loss
Infection of dam during preimplantation period (before days). Delayed return to heat
Above - normal embryo Below - a degenerate embryo from a cow infected with BVD in early pregnancy.

9. Abortion
Up to 180 days

10. Mummified Fetus

11. Developmental defects - hydrocephalus, cleft palate, cerebellar hypoplasia (120- 150days).

12. Developmental defects
90 to 150 days
Cataracts
Retinal Degeneration
Optic Neuritis

13. Stillbirths
Live born Dummy calves

14. 180 days on
Normal calf- fetus is immunocompetent and able to mount a specific immune response

15. Summary of BVD Effects No effect - calf born immune Developmental
-50 50
100
150
200
250
300
No effect - calf born immune
Developmental
defects
Persistent
infection
Embryonic loss
or abortion
Failure to
conceive

16. Persistent Infection PI Carriers
If fetus becomes a PI and survives
- will continuously shed millions of virus all its life from all its secretions
- feces
- urine
- saliva
- nasal
- milk
- semen
- uterine secretions
- aborted membranes, fluids, fetus
- Across fences.
Virus survives in environment up to 7 days
If it’s a female and later gets pregnant then its offspring will be a PI and its offspring and so on and so on

17. Unfortunately the fact that a vaccine is licensed and available doesn’t mean it works
Ribble CS Assessing vaccine efficacy Can J Vet Med Vol 31 Oct 1990

18. Vaccines do not work in sick, stressed, thin, heavily parasitized or TRACE MINERAL DEFICIENT cattle
An animal’s immune system performs best for a well-nourished, healthy body.
Colostral immunity typically protects calves for 3-8 months after ingestion on day 1 of their lives. Many factors play a role in this length of time:
quality and quantity of colostrum consumed
calf’s ability to utilize colostrum
particular disease – calves are protected for different lengths of time depending on the disease (organism).

19. Trace Element Panel ($30)

20. Two Types of Viral Vaccines: Killed (Inactivated) and Modified Live (Attenuated)
Killed vaccines
initially require 2 doses given 2-4 weeks apart
require annual (possibly more frequently) boosters
safe for pregnant cattle
more expensive
more stable (not as easily destroyed)
MLV vaccines
usually require only 1 initial dose
may require annual boosters
some are NOT safe for pregnant cattle
less expensive
requires special handling
Intranasal MLV vaccine (currently only 1 exists)
contain IBR and PI-3
safe for use in pregnant cattle
provide local immunity (in the nose) where the virus naturally enters the body.

21. Open Cows and Heifers – use modified live
Open cows and heifers need a 5 way respiratory vaccine with vibrio (Campylobacter) and lepto 4-6 weeks prior to breeding
Open Cows and Heifers – use modified live
The initial dose of mlv vaccine needs to be given to an open cow or heifer.
Two doses are recommended for heifers with the 2nd dose 30 days pre-breeding
FP=Fetal Protection

22. MLV Respiratory
Open Cows Only:
Safe for Pregnant:
Stimulate cell mediated and humoral immunity quickly-longer, stronger
Booster recommended but
not always required. Do not booster in less than 2 weeks
Bovishield Gold 5, Express 5, Titanium, Pyramid 5, Vista 5 SQ

23. Are boosters important
Are boosters important?? Anamnestic (Memory) Response with killed vaccine requires two doses- a primary and a booster

24. Killed Viral Respiratory Vaccines

25. Intranasal Vaccine

26. Type 1 and 2 are genotypes; CP and NCP
A “respiratory vaccine” contains antigens from 4 viruses but the name often depends on the BVD fraction
RESPIRATORY "4 or 5 or 6 way"
Other Respiratory
IBR
BVD
PI3
BRSV
Mannheimia
Pasteurella (-)
Histophilus(-)
Type 1
Type 2
NCP 36%
CP 25%
NCP 30%
*CP 9%
*Not in Vaccines
Type 1 and 2 are genotypes; CP and NCP
Are biotypes. Pis have noncytopathic BVD

27. Only used if required or if identified as a problem on the farm.
“HS” stands for Histophilus somni (formerly known as Haemophilus somnus)
Only used if required or if identified as a problem on the farm.

28. Mannheimia and Pasteurella Brucellosis (Bangs) Moraxella (Pinkeye)
While they are in the chute, I’ll give them everything…but they will feel rough the next day
More than two Gram (-) vaccines one time or mishandle vaccine-Excess endotoxin
Mannheimia and Pasteurella
Brucellosis (Bangs)
Moraxella (Pinkeye)
Salmonella, E.coli
Histophilus (Hemophilus)
Vibrio (Campylobacter)

29. The bull needs vaccinating, deworming and a breeding soundness exam before breeding season
Approximately 20% of bulls have some degree of infertility
A breeding soundness exam (BSE) is critical prior to the breeding season. This evaluates his breeding potential. Many things can result in a bull becoming subfertile or sterile since the last season. Don’t gamble.
Have the BSE done about 1-2 months prior to the breeding season – time to find another bull if he fails.

30. Pregnant cows and heifers need Scours Vaccine before they calve.
Heifers need primary dose and booster. Annual vaccination required
Fall calving cows should be receiving this soon. Initial is 2 doses then 1 shot annually.
Scour Guard 4KC
Guardian
Scour Bos 9

33. Calf Colostrum Absorption is best in the first 6 hours of life and steadily declines to zero in 24 hours
Calves should be standing 30 minutes after birth
and nursing within 30 minutes after standing.
Percent absorption in gut
30%
Hours after birth

34. Cost is approximately $35

35. Talk to your veterinarian about your individual herd health program.
Based on exposure to risk
Marketing choices (Cows/calves/stockers/replacements)
Compliance
Expense

36. Scours outbreaks usually have multiple causes
Primary disease-causing agents:
Bacteria E.coli K99 and Salmonella
Untreatable viruses like rota- and coronavirus
Parasites like Cryptosporidia and coccidia
Often work together to make scours more severe and more difficult to treat
Others
Rota
&
Coronavirus
E. coli
As you can see from this pie chart, there are multiple scours pathogens out there that can hit your herd. They fall into 3 broad groups including:
Bacteria
Viruses
Parasites
And you will often find them working together wreaking havoc and making the problem much more complex.
Cryptosporidium

37. If calf is standing And has a suckle reflex,
can treat with oral rehydration
products
As a calf scours, they lose bicarbonate in the feces. Bicarbonate (baking soda) loss leads to depression. The more they become depressed the more they need to supplement bicarbonate, electrolytes, and fluids to correct their imbalance.
Do not use table sugar to make home made electrolyte fluids.
Intravenous (IV) fluids will need to be given if calf is down and comatosed (see bottom calf picture.) 37 37

38. What about deworming? Use products effective against adult and inhibited Ostertagia, Cooperia
“Branded”
Macrocyclic lactones-Long acting + External parasite control

39. Benzamidazoles White wormers
Short acting-kill adult worms in the gut and dormant (hypobiotic) larvae
No residual activity but excellent efficacy against Cooperia
What is the likelihood of reinfection? If weather is wet and warm, larvae are thriving so need the residual activity.

40. LONGRANGE Cost: $70/ 50 cc bottle ($1.40/cc)
Proper LONGRANGE injection dose: 1cc/110 lbs BW SQ
$7 to treat a 550 pound calf

41. Persistency (efficacy against incoming L3’s)
LONGRANGE Injectable
CYDECTIN® (moxidectin) Injectable
DECTOMAX® (doramectin) Injectable
SMALL INTESTINAL WORM (C. onocophora)
SMALL INTESTINAL WORM (C. punctata)
STOMACH HAIRWORM
BARBER’S POLE WORM
NODULAR WORM
BROWN STOMACH WORM (O. Ostertagi)
BROWN STOMACH WORM (O. lyrata)
LUNGWORM

43. Calf Program Give blackleg vaccine to all calves-
If first dose given before 4 months of
Age, it “doesn’t count” as first dose
Early castration is best and safest. Recommend an implant to gain more lean muscle
Dehorn and castrate from 0-3 months

44. Pinkeye versus IBR

45. Current Pinkeye Facts Transmission – direct contact, face flies
Agent – Moraxella bovis, (M. bovoculi)
Transmission – direct contact, face flies
Treat – long acting antibiotics
Long acting tetracycline such as Hexasol or Noromycin 300(LA-200-seeing resistance)
Benzathine Penicillin and Dexamethasone subconjunctival-only with valid VCPR
Excede (off-label)
Draxxin
Nuflor (off label)

46. Management Predisposing Factors Lack of pigmentation around the eye ?
Ultraviolet light not absorbed by white hair
Mechanical irritation/Physical trauma
Pollen, seeds, feed dust, dust
Stubble, thorn bushes can scratch cornea
Chemical trauma
Fresh nitrogen applied to pasture
Flies
Face flies feed on eye secretions
Vector of spreading bacteria from animal to animal
Management

47. Predisposing Factors
Ultraviolet light-cell damage to the cornea is initiated by UV burning. This is why the greatest occurrence is in summer.
Viral Infection-Viruses such as IBR can damage the protective cells covering the eye
Stress from shipping, processing, commingling can be immunosuppressive

48. Pinkeye Prevention Prevent Corneal Damage from sun- need shade.
Control FACE flies-ear tags, face “flyps”,Altosid. Clean up areas where flies breed-spilled feed, old hay in rings.
Clip pastures-mechanical injury from plant awns such as foxtail
Clean Water Source-critical to keep eye clean and moist.
Vaccinate
Antibiotic in feed mix/ free choice mineral
Chlortetracycline (Aureomycin®) is not labeled for pinkeye control. However, it is legal to feed CTC to prevent anaplasmosis. 48 48

49. Fly Control-UK ENT-11 Fact Sheet
Numerous insecticides and equipment available-Most Permethrin based
Insecticide-impregnated tag
Back rubs and wicks
Dust bags
Sprays
Feed-throughs
Pour-ons
Avoidance of areas with heavy fly infestations
Back rubs must be strategically positioned – all cows won’t seek them out. They must be kept charged.
Fly tags – organophosphates (OP’s) and pyrethroids (permethrins) are the two major insecticides that fly tags are impregnated with. Fly tags should be rotated with these compounds in mind to minimize resistance. Do not utilize different tags/insecticides at the same time – some people use different tags for cows versus calves in the same herd. This is not recommended, as it gives flies the opportunity to develop resistance to both at the same time. General recommendation: use an OP tag for two years, then a permethrin tag for one year. Then go back to an OP tag for the next two years, etc.
Always remove fly tags in the fall after the fly season. This decreases the opportunity for flies to develop resistance when tags have little insecticide remaining.
Sprays/Pour-ons – usually offer 2 to 3 weeks protection.Feed-through system – feed additive that prevents larvae from maturing. Potential problems are:
adequate consumption for every animal.
Fly migration from neighboring farms.
No effect on mature flies, but will die off.
Cylence or Python give good face and horn fly control

50. Questions?