Cattle Vaccinations & Proper Handling Techniques

written by: MaryAnn Holloway

Vaccinating your cattle annually to protect against disease is an essential part of responsible herd management. However, there are many types and brands of vaccine out there and you might ask yourself, where do I start? Begin by meeting with your veterinarian to create a herd health plan. Your veterinarian is your best source of information for the health protection required by your herd in your unique management area. Your veterinarian can help you decide which diseases you need to vaccinate for and which type of vaccine will be best for you to use. 

There are two general types of vaccines used in cattle; Live and Killed. Each vaccine has its advantages, and each has its disadvantages. 

Killed vaccines are more stable in storage and are safe to use in pregnant animals. However, they are more likely to cause potentially deadly allergic reactions or post vaccination lumps. They have a slower onset of immunity, and they need at least two doses given about 10 days apart.

Live vaccines usually only need one initial dose with an annual booster, have rapid protection, and are less likely to cause allergic reactions or post vaccination lumps. However, they must be handled and mixed with care and cannot be given for the first time to an animal that is already pregnant or they will cause an abortion of the calf. If an animal has been vaccinated with a live vaccine within the past year it is safe to give that vaccine’s annual booster to pregnant cows.

After you have determined which vaccines to use, you need to purchase your vaccine from a reputable distributor. Your veterinarian will probably have vaccine on hand for you to buy and is your most reliable source. If you purchase vaccine through the mail, make sure to have it sent by overnight delivery.

Next, the vaccines must be handled and stored properly until they are ready for use if they are to be effective. After purchase, store vaccines in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator (not on the dash board of the pickup). Vaccines cannot stand warm temperatures or light. They also cannot stand being frozen, so care should be taken to ensure that the vaccine is kept at the temperature recommended on the packaging label.

Always read the label directions on the vaccine label and follow them. Manufacturers often mix vaccines for the convenience of the user; however, never mix vaccines yourself since they may not be compatible. Vaccination effectiveness is dependent on both animal factors and vaccine factors. Animal factors include age, condition, sickness, worm burden and stress. The day you wean your calves is NOT a good time to vaccinate them! Weaning leads to stress and makes the vaccine significantly less effective. Ideally calves should be vaccinated at least two weeks before weaning. If this is not possible, wait until at least two weeks after weaning when the calves have settled in and started to gain their weight back. Live bacterial vaccines are destroyed if the cattle have any antibiotics in their body either from antibiotic injections or feeding antibiotics. So avoid antibiotics five days before and ten days after giving live bacterial vaccines.

Vaccine factors include vaccine temperature, exposure to sunlight, vaccine mixing in a clean syringe, contamination of the vaccine in the syringe or bottle, and the length of time the vaccine is mixed. After rehydration modified live vaccines are good only a few hours under perfect conditions. Exposure to sunlight and heat will inactivate them very quickly. Alcohol, soap, or any disinfectant applied to the needle or syringe can kill a modified live vaccine. Modified-live vaccines must be used within a few hours after mixing. Never save modified-live vaccines for another day. Killed vaccines that have been opened can be used on another day as long as they are stored properly.

About 40% of calves can respond to vaccination at 3 months of age, by 4 months about 80% respond and by 6 months over 90% of the calves respond. It is important to remember that even in healthy well nourished animals some cattle just do not respond to vaccinations. Cattle that are sick, stressed, wormy or poorly nourished will respond poorly to a vaccination program.

Proper Technique

Expose only what vaccine is needed or will be used in about an hour. If there are several animals to be processed, keep vaccines in a cool insulated container (such as a small cooler) and take them out as needed. Most modified live vaccines must be rehydrated by adding a sterile diluent to the freeze-dried material, which is vacuum-packaged. If you are using a syringe and needle to make the diluent transfer, use a clean syringe and needle for this purpose to avoid contamination of the entire vial.

It is very important that injections are given in front of the shoulder and never in the areas that produce the more valuable cuts of meat (loin, rump, butt, etc.). Research has shown that certain vaccines will leave unsightly scars in the meat that persist until slaughter. In addition, the meat will be tougher in these areas, resulting in an unsatisfactory eating experience for the consumer.

                The proper needle size is determined by the type of administration that the vaccine label calls for. For intramuscular vaccinations, use an 18-gauge, 1 1⁄2-inch needle, and for subcutaneous vaccinations use a 16- or 18-gauge, 1/2 to 5⁄8-inch needle. Intramuscular vaccinations are given at a right angle to the animal, with the needle going through the skin and into the muscle. Subcutaneous vaccinations are given using a tented technique. The skin is pulled away from the animal with one hand, and the vaccination is placed under the skin. Change the needle every 10 animals or when it appears to be dull. Never straighten or reuse a bent needle because bent needles are more likely to break and become lost inside the animal. It could then reappear unexpectedly on your dinner plate.

                For many breeders disposable needles and syringes work well because they don’t require any cleaning and can be changed often to reduce the chance of contamination. However, multi-dose syringes are a good choice for cattlemen who are processing large numbers of animals. Remember, these syringes should be dismantled and cleaned after each use. Keep all of the parts together for the same syringe as they tend to not work very well in other syringes. Replacing worn gaskets and lubricating the plunger will keep the syringe working smoothly for many years.

                Syringes should be cleaned by disassembling, placing in boiling water, lubricating the plunger with clean Vaseline, and reassembling them in a clean area while they are still hot. They should be stored in a new zip-lock bag in the freezer. Syringes should never be cleaned with alcohol, disinfectant, or soap. Residues left behind may inactivate any future vaccines used. Syringes that have been used for antibiotics should never be used to give vaccines, as the residues will react to the vaccine and make it ineffective. Label syringes that have been used for antibiotic use to avoid any confusion.

                In summary:

*Talk to your veterinarian about a herd health plan for your herd.

*Buy your vaccines from a reputable source and store them properly.

*Always use a sterile syringe and needle that has not had other vaccines or antibiotics in it.

*Label syringes that have been used for antibiotic use to avoid any confusion.

*Always give injections in front of the shoulder.

*Use correct needle size, administer vaccines according to the label, and change the needle every 10 calves.

*Never vaccinate your calves when they are sick or on the day that they are weaned.

*Never mix up more modified live vaccine than you will use in the next hour and never save live vaccine for use on another day.

*Never clean the syringe or needle with any detergent or disinfectants.