By Larry Stalcup | Contributing Editor KEEP YOUR HERD HEALTHY
W hat a time to raise and sell cattle. We’re seeing 500-pound calves top $350 to $400 per cwt. at the sale barn or video auction. Those mega-markets illustrate the significance of a well-planned herd health program that promotes strong calf immunity and, ultimately, better gains. Dr. DL Step, senior professional services veterinarian for Boeh- ringer Ingelheim, explains how the development and growth of a calf ’s immune system can make or break herd dynamics. As the nation sees more drought, wildfires and other challenges, a herd’s environment will play a large part in the strength of an animal’s immune system. “Some areas are still seeing respiratory challenges from dust and smoke from drought and wildfires,” Step says.“And water quality is also being negatively impacted in some regions.” A solid animal health program will more than likely help calves born into those conditions respond better to a vaccine protocol and other health and nutrition systems early on. But Step first encourages producers to manage the pregnant dam and colos- trum in newborns to protect them from organisms that cause diseases. Timing is critical. The cow’s antibodies don’t cross the placenta during pregnancy, so the calf is born without any real immu- nity to disease and relies on the antibodies found in the dam’s colostrum. “Make sure calves start nursing as soon as possible after calving,” Step says, noting that calves should receive about 4 quarts of colostrum during the first few hours of life. Producers should work with their veterinarians to develop a vaccination program suited for their area. An initial vac protocol should be used to help prevent these diseases: infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) Types 1 and 2, including BVDV Type 1b, bovine respiratory
syncytial virus (BRSV), parainfluenza 3 (Pl3), Mannheimia haemolytica, Clostridium sp. and pinkeye. Step says preventive health programs are variable, depending on the forage being grazed, handling facilities, management and other environmental factors.“Many producers start calves on their vaccination programs at two to three months of age during early processing or branding time,” he says. “But recent research has shown that we can now give a modi- fied-live virus (MLV) vaccine to calves as young as 30 days of age as long as the dam was also vaccinated with an MLV. That’s not to say all injectable vaccines can do this. This particular product utilizes a unique adjuvant that protects vaccine antigens from maternal antibodies, thus enhancing the immune response, even in calves still maintaining high levels of maternal antibodies acquired from colostrum.” Step adds that it “certainly helps to use a preconditioning pro- gram in which calves are weaned for 45 to 60 or more days and receive two rounds of MLV respiratory vaccines and a round of clostridial vaccinations. Deworming treatment for parasites should also be administered to help further protect the immune system.” The weaning period should allow calves to become bunk broke and exposed to water from a tank or automatic water. Nutri- tionally, it can be helpful to provide calves with a mineral pack to deliver micro minerals such as copper, selenium and zinc to help them better handle being commingled at a grow yard or feedyard and exposed to disease agents. Protect Your Female The respiratory issues caused by drought, wildfires or other conditions may also impact mama cows. Step says females should be vaccinated against BVDV, IBR and leptospirosis. The veterinarian may also recommend vaccinating for trichomonia-
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June | July 2025
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