Act now – some vaccine regimes need to start six weeks prior to housing .Viruses – there are a few, but the three main ones are IBR, PI3 and RSV. They are different to each other in the way they spread and how they damage the respiratory system. Bacteria – The most deadly are Mannheimia Haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somnus. All these bugs will happily live in the tonsils of healthy animals, causing no disease at all, until a viral infection opens the path to infecting the lungs, turning a nasty viral pneumonia into a deadly bacterial pneumonia There is no vaccine “for pneumonia” – there are a number of different vaccines covering most (but not all) of the agents that cause pneumonia, often in handy combinations designed for use in particular risk situations. There is no cross-protection; IBR vaccine will not cover weanlings against RSV or Pasteurella.Injectable vaccines – these are usually dead or inactivated vaccines, often combining bacterial and viral components. They provide a broader spectrum of cover, but require two injections four weeks apart and are more expensive than the alternatives.Intranasal vaccines – these are delivered down the nostrils. They are only available for viruses. Usually, PI3 and RSV are in combination. IBR is usually sold alone. They have the advantage of providing cover more quickly, being cheaper and only requiring a single shot, but the intranasal delivery can be difficult in wilder animals and the length of protection is shorter, typically 12 weeks. Your vet will advise you on the best strategy for your needs. Diagnostics – we can use our knowledge of these agents to guess which pose a risk to what animals at what time, but these guesses will sometimes be wrong. It is important to know what agents are causing pneumonia on a farm to help design the best vaccination strategies.It’s not all about vaccines – animals need to be well-fed, housed in comfortable properly ventilated sheds. Avoid over-crowding. Ask your vet about stocking rates, feed space, ventilation requirements and how ventilation can be improved Lungworm – this year has been a very dangerous year for lungworm. Worm cattle two to three weeks prior to housing to ensure that they are clear. Worm purchased weanlings on arrival. Buy a thermometer – the fastest, cheapest and best way to confirm that a calf is more than a bit off. Kevin Meaney holds a certificate in dairy herd health and works with Southview Veterinary Hospital in Clonmel. Southview Veterinary Hospital is part of the XLVets group of progressive practices working towards a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland.
Act now – some vaccine regimes need to start six weeks prior to housing .Viruses – there are a few, but the three main ones are IBR, PI3 and RSV. They are different to each other in the way they spread and how they damage the respiratory system. Bacteria – The most deadly are Mannheimia Haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somnus. All these bugs will happily live in the tonsils of healthy animals, causing no disease at all, until a viral infection opens the path to infecting the lungs, turning a nasty viral pneumonia into a deadly bacterial pneumonia There is no vaccine “for pneumonia” – there are a number of different vaccines covering most (but not all) of the agents that cause pneumonia, often in handy combinations designed for use in particular risk situations. There is no cross-protection; IBR vaccine will not cover weanlings against RSV or Pasteurella.Injectable vaccines – these are usually dead or inactivated vaccines, often combining bacterial and viral components. They provide a broader spectrum of cover, but require two injections four weeks apart and are more expensive than the alternatives.Intranasal vaccines – these are delivered down the nostrils. They are only available for viruses. Usually, PI3 and RSV are in combination. IBR is usually sold alone. They have the advantage of providing cover more quickly, being cheaper and only requiring a single shot, but the intranasal delivery can be difficult in wilder animals and the length of protection is shorter, typically 12 weeks. Your vet will advise you on the best strategy for your needs. Diagnostics – we can use our knowledge of these agents to guess which pose a risk to what animals at what time, but these guesses will sometimes be wrong. It is important to know what agents are causing pneumonia on a farm to help design the best vaccination strategies.It’s not all about vaccines – animals need to be well-fed, housed in comfortable properly ventilated sheds. Avoid over-crowding. Ask your vet about stocking rates, feed space, ventilation requirements and how ventilation can be improved Lungworm – this year has been a very dangerous year for lungworm. Worm cattle two to three weeks prior to housing to ensure that they are clear. Worm purchased weanlings on arrival. Buy a thermometer – the fastest, cheapest and best way to confirm that a calf is more than a bit off. Kevin Meaney holds a certificate in dairy herd health and works with Southview Veterinary Hospital in Clonmel. Southview Veterinary Hospital is part of the XLVets group of progressive practices working towards a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland.
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