Vaccines are an important tool for controlling infectious diseases. However, it is important to remember that they are only one element of an overall herd health plan.

When looking at vaccines, the first step is to decide what you're vaccinating for. Then, a number of management factors will have a big bearing on the effectiveness of treatments.

Decisions

To establish a vaccination plan, it is important to assess your herd’s disease status first.

Do this with your vet. It should involve looking at herd records and, if possible, testing animals to see what diseases are present. Where available and considered appropriate, vaccines can then be used to minimise the impact of any identified diseases.

Storage and administration

The first stumbling block with vaccines is often storage. Vaccines become denatured and are ultimately made redundant if stored incorrectly. Most vaccines require refrigeration, but check the manufacturer’s guidelines.

It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and veterinary advice on the route of administration (under the skin or into the muscle) and the size of the dose.

When vaccinating animals, stress should be avoided to allow the immune system to properly respond. It is important not to perform stressful procedures like transportation or dehorning at the same time as vaccinating.

While most vaccines are given to protect the animals that receive them, some are given during later pregnancy, like scour vaccines to protect the calf through antibodies they receive in the colostrum and milk. It is important to ensure the calf receives colostrum from the vaccinated cow within two hours of birth and continues to receive milk for the first month of its life to provide ongoing protection.

Another thing to remember is to always include the stock bull when vaccinating breeding animals.

Timing

Table 1 lists vaccines that are commonly used in suckler herds and suggests times of year when these should be given.

The final selection of vaccines and their timing should be discussed with your vet.

Notes

Some vaccines require two doses to complete the primary course. This is very important to remember in breeding heifers.

There are various protocols for IBR vaccination, depending on the product, so refer to guidelines and consult your vet for both.

Some vaccines can be given together, while others must be administered individually, with two weeks in between another vaccine. Check the product information for guidelines. If vaccines are to be giver separately, careful planning is needed to ensure correct timing of administration.