Recommened Practices for a Vaccination Program in the Cow-Calf Herd
Information comes from a management guideline
put out as a joint effort between the National
Cattlemen's Association (NCA) and the American Association of Bovine
Practitioners (AABP)
Calves
Program "A"
| Calf Age | Strongly recommended | Optional |
| Young calves 1 to 3 months old | IBR/PI3: Killed vaccine
intramuscularly or intranasal modified live vaccine in herds
that do not use this in the cows routinely. Clostridial diseases: Use at least a "4- to 7-way" bacterin. |
Leptospirosis Pasteurella Hemophilus |
Program "B"
| Calf Age | Strongly recommended | Optional |
| Older calves 6 to 12 months old | IBR/PI3: Booster the vaccination
given at 1 to 3 months of age (may use killed vaccine, intranasal
vaccine, or live intra- muscular vaccine). Do not use
modified live vaccine on calves nursing pregnant cows. Clostridial diseases: A booster is recommended at this time. Brucellosis: Only heifers; consult with your veterinarian. BVD: Do not give modified live vaccine to stressed or very young calves. Not always recommended in conjuction with live IBR/PI3 vaccine. The killed vaccine is okay at any age or state of pregnancy in the mother cow but requires a booster. |
Leptospirosis Vibriosis: For heifers and bull calves kept for breeding. Pasteurella and Hemophilus somnus: Booster shots if given earlier (1-3 mo. old). If given now for the first time, booster is needed 3-4 weeks later. Bovine Respiratory Synctial Virus (BRSV) |
Weaning Time
If initial and booster shots had been administered as outlined in Program "A" and "B", no additional immunizations are needed at this time.
If the first vaccination series as listed in Program "A" was given but not followed by Program "B" (3 to 4 weeks before weaning), give boosters as listed in Program "B" at weaning time.
If calves have not been vaccinated at all before weaning, Program "C" is offered. It must be emphasized that Program "C" is not always an adequate substitute for Programs "A" and "B". A degree of risk is possible when calves receive various vaccinations for the first time at weaning, or worse, after weaning.
Program "C"
| Calf Age | Strongly recommended | Optional |
| Weaning time | IBR/PI3: Give intranasal,
modified live, or killed vaccine (in muscle). Clostridial bacterin: A "4- to 7-way" is recommended.
|
Pasteurella and Hemophilus somnus: Give first shot. BRSV |
| 14 to 21 days after weaning | IBR/PI3: If killed vaccine
was given at weaning, a second shot of killed vaccine is needed
now. BVD vaccine Clostridial diseases: A booster is needed now. Brucellosos: Only heifers |
Leptospirosis bacterin Vibriosis: For replacements Pasteurella and Hemophilus: Give booster. |
| A. | Replacement heifers and bulls (generally 10 to
15 months of age). The immunizations outlined below should be boostered annually, no later than 30 days before breeding. |
| 1. | Replacement cattle with unknown history status - heifers not pregnant. |
| a. | First working |
| 1. | Immunization: (a) IBR/PI3, BVD. (b) Vibriosis. (c) Leptospirosis. (d) Clostridial diseases. |
| b. | Second working (14 to 30 days later) |
| 1. | Immunization: (a) Leptospirosis booster. (b) Vibrosis booster if a second shot is required by some manufacturers. (c) Clostridial booster. |
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| 2. | Other treatments: (a) Treat for external parasites, depending upon grub development and season. |
| 2. | Replacement cattle sufficiently immunized by calfhood
and weaning programs. This is recommended as optimum management, starting after calves are weaned and assuming they have had at least the minimal recommendations suggested for calves. |
| a. | Booster vaccinations: (1) IBR. (2)
BVD. (3) Leptospirosis. (4) Vibriosis. (5) Clostridial |
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| b. | Other treatments: (1) Internal and external parasites |
| B. | Mature cows and bulls. These immunizations should be boostered annually, either at time of pregnancy examination or no later than 30 days before rebreeding, or upon advice of your veterinarian, assuming immunizations as calves and/or replacements have been done. |
| 1. | Booster vaccinations: (a) IBR. (b)
BVD. (c) Leptospirosis. (d) Vibriosis. (e) Clostridial. |
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| 2. | Other treatments: (1) Internal and external parasites. |
| C. | SPECIAL NOTICE: Brucellosis status Vaccinate all eligible heifers for Brucellosis. Purchase only vaccinated heifers. |