There have been many times in the past year where producers have called the office concerned because they are suddenly experiencing loss in their cow-calf herd beyond what is typically expected. The first question I like to ask is "When is the last time you vaccinated your herd?" Surprisingly most people aren't following a vaccination or biosecurity protocol with their cow-calf herds which is placing them at risk of losing calves and cows. This year, I challenge our Cass County producers to adopt a New Year's Resolution of a vaccination protocol.
Always work with your veterinarian to determine which vaccines are necessary for your herd and the frequency at which you need to administer them. If you build a patient relationship with a veterinarian they are far more likely to be available when you need to them come help pull a calf in the middle of the night. If you've never vaccinated your herd before, here are some guidelines that will help you to get started. Calves need to be vaccinated twice, starting at 2 months of age. Bulls and replacement heifers need to be vaccinated 3 to 6 weeks prior to introduction to the herd. Please make sure you are trich testing your bulls in addition to vaccinating them. If you are calving all year long, you need to plan on vaccinating your cow herd every six months. If you have a calving season that is only once a year, then you need to plan to vaccinate them at 7 to 9 months gestation. See the charts below for recommended vaccines and make sure to consult with your veterinarian on the plan that is best for your herd.
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AuthorI have the best job in the world targetting community issues and solving them with community based education, geared specifically towards Agriculture and Natural Resources. Archives
August 2022
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