https://www.beefmagazine.com/sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_beefmagazine/images/logos/footer.png

Beef Magazine is part of the Global Exhibitions Division of Informa PLC

  • Informa PLC
  • About us
  • Investor relations
  • Talent

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Discover:
  • Quotes
  • Weather
  • Seedstock 100
  • Reproductive Success
  • Blog: Beef Daily
  • LISTEN: Max Armstrong's Daily Updates
  • WATCH: This Week in Agribusiness
  • Digital Issues – BEEF
  • Digital Issues – BEEF Vet
  • National Stocker Award
  • More
    Menu
    Log In or Register
    • Animal Health
    • Beef Quality
    • BEEF Vet
    • Business
    • Genetics/Reproduction
    • Nutrition
    • Pasture/Range
    • Regulatory
    • Quotes
    • Weather
    • Seedstock 100
    • Reproductive Success
    • Blog: Beef Daily
    • LISTEN: Max Armstrong's Daily Updates
    • WATCH: This Week in Agribusiness
    • Digital Issues – BEEF
    • Digital Issues – BEEF Vet
    • Seedstock Calendar
    • FFA Chapter Tribute
    • Samuelson Sez
    • Over a Cup
    • Health Ranch
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • Cookie Policy
    • Ad Choices
    Beef Magazine
    • Search
    • Log In
    • Register
    Health Ranch
    ALL CONTENT SPONSORED BY
    Health Ranch
    brought to you by
    Early vaccination can help boost calf performance
    Sponsored Content
    Livestock>Animal Health

    Early vaccination can help boost calf performance

    Prevent bovine respiratory disease before it chokes your profits.

    Industry Voice by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health | May 26, 2015

    Boehringer Ingelheim Cattle Health

    Boehringer Ingelheim Cattle Health, Duluth, Georgia. 38,804 likes · 94 talking about this. Whether it's prevention, treatment or industry advancement, Boehringer lngelheim is committed to putting...

    By vaccinating calves at branding time or turnout, ranchers can help prevent bovine respiratory disease (BRD) – the No. 1 health and economic issue facing the beef industry today. And as part of a well-managed preconditioning program, BRD prevention will help generate the best bottom line in an environment that demands prudent risk management practices from all angles of production.

     

    With cattle prices projected to remain at this upper level for 2015 and into 2016, cow-calf operators can expect substantial profits in the months ahead. CattleFax has projected an average price for a 550-pound steer at $260 cwt. Profits for cow-calf operators are pegged at $400 per head or more. However, profits can be heavily reduced for calves affected with BRD and other diseases that cause poor performance and increased death loss, says Dr. John Davidson, professional services veterinarian for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI).

    “When it comes to selling calves to stocker operators or feedyards, a producer’s reputation is on the line,” says Davidson, from College Station, Texas. “If your calves perform well at the feed bunk and remain healthy, there’s a strong chance that feedyard or stocker operator will contract for your calves again.”

    BRD attacks the animal’s respiratory system through a multitude of viruses – bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR); parainfluenza 3 (PI3); bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and Mannheimia haemolytica. Viremia and leukopenia make each of these diseases worse, spreading disease throughout the body and rendering white blood cells useless. New research into these diseases has unveiled an even more specific disease to focus efforts on – BVD Type 1b, a specific strain of BVD, has been identified as the most common subtype found in persistently infected calves.

    BRD can be transferred through fluids (e.g., nose-to-nose contact, shared water and feed) or through the air. With the addition of replacement heifers from elsewhere, there is the increased chance for outside diseases infecting the herd.

    “Common BRD symptoms are fever, coughing, labored breathing and nasal discharge,” Davidson says. “Once affected by BRD, there is an immediate and long lasting impact on performance.”

    He mentioned it reduces weaning weight of calves by about 17 pounds or more, according to more than 20 years of research at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb. 

    “BRD impacts calf health and ultimately the consumer experience,” Davidson adds. “Increased medicine and labor costs are compounded by reduced performance in the affected calves. Unfortunately, the problem appears to be getting worse in recent years.”

    At the 2014 Bovine Respiratory Disease Symposium in Denver, Colo., Mike Engler, CEO of Cactus Feeders, the nation’s second largest cattle company, reported that “mortality during the finishing phase in beef steers has increased over the last 13 years at a rate of 0.05% per year for cattle fed in Cactus Feeders’ operations.” Concurrent with this trend is the increase in dollars spent on antibiotics in recent years.

    Davidson says numerous reportsa,b,c illustrate the benefit of including viral vaccination at times typically reserved only for clostridial (i.e. blackleg) vaccines. “Producers should consider vaccinating calves at 30 to 90 days of age, during branding and spring turnout,” he says.

    “Even with maternal antibodies, vaccination with a five-way modified-live virus (MLV)-M. haemolytica combination helps protect calves months after vaccination. That provides greater protection throughout the summer, when summer pneumonia and other respiratory diseases are especially a challenge.”

    The MLV combination of Pyramid® 5 + Presponse® SQ from BIVI helps protect calves against IBR, PI3, BRSV and M. haemolytica. It also helps protect calves against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) Types 1a, 1b (for at least 217 days, including post-challenge viremia and leukopenia) and 2, major causes of respiratory diseases. Enhanced immune response is also provided by the MetaStim® adjuvant system.

    With both viral and bacterial protection in a single syringe, Davidson says PYRAMID 5 + PRESPONSE SQ has been demonstrating results for nearly 20 years on ranches and feedlots across the country.

    He adds that the same BRD and BVD protection found in the PYRAMID 5 + PRESPONSE SQ MLV is evident in the BIVI Express® FP vaccine for cows. EXPRESS FP is labeled to prevent calves persistently infected with BVD, when cows are vaccinated according to label directions.

    By vaccinating cows with EXPRESS FP, Davidson says ranchers “can significantly reduce the threat of viruses and bacteria that impact a herd’s reproductive efficiency.”

    Consult your veterinarian

    Cow-calf producers should work with their local veterinarian to develop a vaccination and overall animal health plan best suited for their particular environment. Along with BRD and BVD protection, the plan should incorporate a parasite control program, which includes a dewormer that provides persistent control of the particular parasites known to infest the producer’s herd and pastures.

    “It’s vital for producers to keep good records of their vaccinations and other animal health applications,” Davidson adds. “Records and documentation of your solid health program can open the door to more competition resulting in higher bids for your calves. In working with feedyards, I’ve found that they want to know what your calves have had in the way of vaccinations, implants, dewormers and other animal health and growth promotant products.”

    Davidson concludes that ranchers should learn all they can about how to enhance their herd production efficiently and to produce the quality of animals sought by feedyards, packers and ultimately, consumers.

    “As we look ahead to increased heifer retention and expansion in the national beef herd, there will undoubtedly be a greater priority on health in our feeder steers,” he says. “A major priority should be to modify our health programs to emphasize the significance of early vaccination in pre-weaned calves.

    “In addition, producers have an opportunity to improve the long-term health of those calves, which will provide an improved eating experience for consumers. It’s also an opportunity to provide additional comfort for those cattle while they’re on your ranch.”

    Pyramid® 5 + Presponse® SQ provides broad coverage against BVD Types 1 and 2, IBR, BRSV, PI3 and Mannheimia haemolytica. PYRAMID 5 + PRESPONSE SQ delivers enhanced efficacy with the help of the MetaStim® adjuvant system, enhancing the animal’s response to the vaccine for greater protection. For more information, visit http://www.bi-vetmedica.com/species/cattle/products/Pyramid_Presponse_SQ.html.

    REFERENCES

    aZimmerman et al. Bovine Practitioner  Vol 43, Spring 2009

    bKirkpatrick et al. JAVMA Vol 233, No 1, July 2008

    cPowell et al. Bovine Practitioner Vol 46, 2012

     

    You might also like:

    Your reputation rides on your calves

    Don't let BVD steal your profit

    Where BVD persistent infection is concerned, it only takes one

    Herd health important to keep calves healthy through weaning & beyond

    Early weaning and its impact on cows, calves, & producers

    Could trich be coming to a herd near you?

    Pre-Breeding Vaccinations Key To Maximizing Returns

    TAGS: Vaccines
    0 comments
    Hide comments
    Switch to plain text editor

    More information about text formats

    Comments

    • Allowed HTML tags: <em> <strong> <blockquote> <br> <p>

    Plain text

    • No HTML tags allowed.
    • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
    • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
    PublishLog in or register to comment
    Related
    Low-stress cattle handling is not low-pressure cattle handling
    Low-stress cattle handling is not low-pressure cattle handling
    May 14, 2015
    Don't let BVD steal your profit
    Sponsored Content
    Don't let BVD steal your profit
    Mar 26, 2015
    Sponsored Content
    Livestock photography tips from Boehringer Ingelheim
    Feb 13, 2019
    Boehringer Ingelheim
    Sponsored Content
    5 reasons to take action against BVDV type 1b
    Nov 01, 2018
    Logo
    FarmProgress Powered by Informa
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • Cookie Policy
    • Leadership
    • Marketing Solutions
    • The Farm Progress Network

    Follow us:

    © 2019 Informa USA, Inc., All Rights Reserved