Heifers On Pasture

Patrick Hemming DVM

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Animal Reproductive Technologies

VACCINATIONS, TREATMENTS & MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS                                  September, 2005

 

 

Vaccination Procedures

 

CALVES:

 

2 to 3 month old calves, 1st shots;

 

IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, (BoviShield Gold 5 or Cattlemaster 4, Pfizer), IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV vaccine

 

Clostridium 7 or 8 way (ULTRABAC 7, Pfizer), 7 or 8 way Clostridium vaccine will usually give adequate protection against black leg, enterotoxemia, abomasal ulcers and other clostridial diseases.

 

Haemophillus somnus, Optional (can be given in combination with 7 way, as ULTRABAC 7/SOMUBAC, Pfizer)

 

Pasteurella, Optional (i.e.. ONE SHOT, Pfizer, Once PMH, Intervet), Should be used in calves that are to be retained after weaning.

 

Brand and dehorn.

 

Note: The calf's dams are processed at this time in preparation for the breeding season.

 

 

6 to 7 months, calves;  optional

 

Feed, Start the calves on a creep feed consisting of oats or grain pellet mix.

 

 

6 to 8 month old calves,

 

Option 1.           Pre-weaning:  IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV,  (CATTLEMASTER 4, Pfizer), chemically altered IBR, PI3, killed BVD with Modified live BRSV or use a killed viral vaccine (Vira Shield 5, Grand Labs).  Use option 1 for pre-weaning calves on their dams that have had 1 Cattlemaster 4 vaccination at branding.  Re-vaccinate with modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (IBR etc.) after weaning.

 

Option 2.           Pre-weaning:  IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, (CATTLEMASTER 4 plus TSV2 intranasal, Pfizer), for calves that have not been previously vaccinated and are still on their dams.   This method will produce faster protection against IBR and other viruses.  Re-vaccinate with modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (IBR etc.) after weaning.

 

Option 3.           Pre-weaning:  IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Modified Live Vaccine (BOVISHIELD GOLD 5, Pfizer), for calves whose dams were vaccinated with BoviShield Gold 5 FP prior to breeding (according to label directions).   Re-vaccinate with modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (IBR etc.) after weaning.

 

Option 4.           Post-weaning:  IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Modified Live Vaccine (BOVISHIELD 4, Pfizer), for calves that have already been weaned and stockers.  Re-vaccinate in 10 to 20 days with a second dose of MLV viral vaccine (IBR etc.). 

 

Clostridium 7 way, Haemophillus,  (ULTRABAC 7/SOMUBAC,  Pfizer) second vaccination.

 

Pasteurella,  (i.e.. ONE SHOT, Pfizer, Once PMH, Intervet) Will lower the severity of respiratory disease that occurs.  Is probably of most value in calves that have had no previous vaccinations for viruses, i.e. stocker calves.

 

Leptospirosis bacterin, 5 strains, including L. pomona, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo and icterohaemorrhagiae, to replacement heifers and bulls (do not use on bulls that may become A.I. sires), This can be combined with the modified live IBR revaccination

 

Brucellosis,        "Bangs" vaccinate all replacement and sale breeding heifers,

 

Coccidia, Do a fecal exam and treat calves if necessary.  To prevent coccidiosis treat calves with DECCOX or CORID on a preventative dosage regimen, once they are on feed.

 

De-Grub and louse, IVOMEC or an organophosphate if doing fall work,

 

De-worm, (IVOMEC or use an oral de-wormer). Move to a clean pasture.

 

Castrate and dehorn.

 

Tattoo, right ear with herd ID #, avoid the vaccination tattoo, re-tag or freshen tags on replacements,

 

Data collection, 1. Weaning weight, 2. Hip height,

 

Confinement, Confine weaned calves to a small dust free pen where they cannot "walk the fence".  Dams can be left adjacent to the calves for the first few days after weaning or they can be removed out of hearing range.  When calves stop bawling (2 to 4 days) and are eating and drinking good they can be released from confinement.  At this time separation from dams is required.

 

Feed, The feed should consist of a clean, dust free high quality hay and a high energy grain mix that is nearly identical to the creep mix with additional corn. Start silage feeds slowly, only after the calves are using the feed bunk well (7 to 10 days).  Increase silage levels in 4 or 5 steps while reducing hay quantity.   Medications in the feed are seldom of any benefit for calves handled as outlined, except for specific problems such as coccidiosis.

 

NOTE: Ideally weaning should be delayed, if possible, until 2 or 3 weeks after a full set of vaccinations.  This will allow time for maximum resistance to disease.

 

NOTE: Never use a modified live vaccine (MLV) for IBR or BVD on pregnant cows, calves nursing pregnant cows or any animal that is pastured with or next to pregnant cows, unless the MLV vaccine is specifically labeled for such use and the pregnant cows have been previously vaccinated with the same vaccine within the last 9 months.

 

 

 

COWS, HEIFERS and BULLS, Pre-breeding:

 

Yearling replacement heifers & bulls, 6 to 8 weeks pre-breeding;

 

IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Modified Live Virus, (i.e. Pfizer's BoviShield Gold 5 FP),

 

7-Way clostridium, Haemophillus bacterin, (ULTRABAC 7 SOMUBAC tm, Pfizer)

 

Leptospirosis bacterin, 5 strains, (do not use on bulls that may become A.I. sires)

 

Vibrio, Campylobacter fetus vaccine, if determined to be necessary,  the best protection is offered by using VIBRIN tm, (Pfizer),  Lepto & Vibrio can be combined in one shot, (STAYBRED VL5, Pfizer)

 

Mu-Se, if in a selenium deficient area,

 

De-Grub and louse, IVOMEC or an organophosphate if doing fall work,

 

De-worm, if doing fall work, fall is an excellent time to de-worm cows, prior to winter feeding and after the heaviest worm infectivity period, if moved to a clean pastures the cows should still be relatively worm free in the spring, reducing calf exposure.

 

Feed supplements, hi-phosphate and hi-magnesium mineral with balanced trace minerals and/or chelated trace minerals, adequate protein, adequate vitamin A and adequate energy to fulfill  requirements for growth,

 

Data collection, 1. yearling weights,  Body condition score and body quality scores,   3. pelvic measurements (this data is used to make final selection of breeding bulls and heifers for replacements),  3.  Uterine score all heifers to be bred, helps select late maturing heifers to cull, 4. Hip height.

 

 

Cows, Heifers and bulls, 3 to 4 weeks pre-breeding;

 

IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Modified Live Virus, (i.e. Pfizer's BoviShield Gold 5 FP), It is desirable to use a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine for BVD prior to breeding.  This will cause the breeding cattle to have maximum immunity to BVD during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy. 

 

Early pregnancy is when a cow that becomes infected with BVD may transmit the infection to her fetus, and cause the fetus, if it survives, to become a persistently infected (PI) calf.  PI calves will shed virus for the duration of their life and are responsible for maintaining BVD infection within a herd.

 

NOTE:  Use a chemically altered or killed IBR, PI3 and killed BVD (CATTLEMASTER 4, Pfizer) if at least 3 weeks are not available prior to the start of breeding season, (may be given right up to the start of breeding).  Plan ahead, because it is best to use a MLV BVD vaccine prior to breeding.

 

7-Way clostridium, Haemophillus somnus bacterin, (ULTRABAC 7 SOMUBAC tm, Pfizer)

 

Leptospirosis bacterin, 5 strains, (do not use on bulls that may become A.I. sires),

 

Vibrio, Campylobacter fetus vaccine, if determined to be necessary, the best protection is offered by using VIBRIN tm, (Pfizer), Lepto & Vibrio can be combined in one shot, (STAYBRED VL5, Pfizer), 

 

Trichomonas vaccine may also be used if "Trich" is a problem

 

Mu-Se, depending on mineral status,

 

De-Grub and louse, IVOMEC or an organophosphate if doing fall work,

 

De-worm, if doing fall work, fall is an excellent time to de-worm cows, prior to winter feeding and after the heaviest worm infectivity period, if moved to a clean pastures the cows should still be relatively worm free in the spring, reducing calf exposure.

 

Feed, nutrition is very important to lactating breeding cows and especially to first calf heifers.  Try to provide an adequate, balanced diet prior to calving so that cows will calve with a body condition score of 6.  The body condition at calving is highly correlated with early return to cycling and early re-breeding.  Body condition will drop after calving but will be regained after 60 days of lactation with adequate pasture or feed.  Try to supply cows with calves’ adequate energy for lactation and some weight gain.

 

Feed a high phosphate mineral with trace minerals balanced to complement the feeds available.  If trace mineral balancing is not available, chelated trace minerals should be used.  The time to start using balanced or chelated minerals is prior to calving as their effect on reproduction starts with a healthy uterus at calving time.   Lower quality minerals can be used from weaning until 30 days prior to the calving season.  Additional magnesium is required when grass first start growing in April and May.  Be sure to also provide adequate vitamin A, D and E.

 

Feed adequate protein but avoid excessive protein, as this will adversely effect conception. Protein levels should not exceed 14% for breeding beef cattle.  Cows on lush pre-flowering grass pasture, wheat pasture and on legume pastures may be receiving excess protein.  It may be advisable to move breeding cows to pastures with more mature plants during the early breeding season.

 

 

COWS and HEIFERS, Mid-gestation:  3 to 5 Months of pregnancy;

 

Pregnancy test

 

Leptospirosis bacterin, 5 strains, if Leptospirosis is a problem,

 

De-Grub and louse, IVOMEC or an organophosphate if doing fall work,

 

De-worm, fall is an excellent time to de-worm cows, prior to winter feeding and after the heaviest worm infectivity period, if moved to a clean pastures the cows should still be relatively worm free in the spring, reducing calf exposure.

 

Rota/Corona Killed Viruses, E. coli, Cl. perfringens type C bacterin-toxoid (SCOURGAURD 3(K)/C tm, (Pfizer), Scour Bos 4, Novartis).  First calf heifers, cows that have not calved in the previous year or cows with an unknown vaccination history, require 2 shots of ScourGaurd or Scour Bos.  The 1st shot should be given now.

 

 

All cows and heifers, 3 to 4 weeks pre-calving;

 

Rota/Corona Virus, E. coli, Cl. perfringens type C, (SCOURGAURD 3(K)/C tm, (Pfizer), Scour Bos 4, Novartis), second vaccination or annual booster.

 

The following are optional, Use pre-calving if not given pre-breeding:

 

De-lice, a pyrethrin type base such as CYLENCE or SYNERGIZED DE-LICE will be effective in treating lice.  Use IVOMEC or an organophosphate if doing fall work on fall calving cows to also kill grubs,

 

De-worm, the need for de-worming, medications and timing should be discussed, move to clean pasture, fecal exams can be done to determine parasite load.

 

Use Mu-Se if in a selenium deficient area.

 

 

Cows calving late, 2 to 4 weeks pre-calving;

 

If SCOURGAURD 3(K)C tm is used, Pfizer recommends that all cows that have not calved and are over 8 weeks since their last E. coli shot, should receive a booster with ScourGaurd 3(K)C.

 

This outline is presented only as a basis for discussion.  A final plan can be developed based on herd requirements and new products that become available.   

 

Patrick J. Hemming DVM

 

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Animal Reproductive Technologies

pathemmingdvm@yahoo.com

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