Beef and Dairy Cattle Vaccination Programs

Introduction
Infectious diseases threaten beef and dairy cattle Some vaccines are produced by modifying the infectious
health and welfare and can decrease productivity and agent in such a way that the organisms remain alive,
profitability. Vaccination is an important component of multiply, and produce immunity in the vaccinated animal,
control and prevention of these diseases. A vaccination but do not produce disease. Many modified live viral
program, however, is not a substitute for good nutrition, (MLV) vaccines should not be given to naive pregnant cattle
adequate ventilation, effective sanitation, and other health because they can invade the fetus and cause birth defects or
management procedures. abortion. Examples are injectable modified live infectious
bovine rhino-tracheitis and bovine virus diarrhea vaccines.
Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases, but no vaccine Modified live vaccines generally produce a higher level of
provides 100 percent immunity for all animals in a herd. immunity than killed vaccines, but may have a degree of
Vaccines raise the general level of herd immunity so that the risk when given to either pregnant or highly stressed cattle.
spread of an infectious disease or severity of clinical illness is
minimal. Vaccines are often ineffective at eliciting new antibody
production when given to young calves. Very young animals
Vaccination programs should be developed in cooperation have a functional immune system that can respond to
with the herd veterinarian. Individual herd circumstances, vaccines or antigens but is immature compared to older
including disease history, biosecurity, management, housing, animals and may not be able to respond to the vaccine or
and other factors, affect the specific vaccination programs antigen as effectively. Antibodies acquired from the dam
in any beef or dairy operation. Type of vaccine, such as through colostrum that protect the calf from many infectious
killed or modified live, stage of production, costs, benefits, diseases also may block and destroy the antigens in the
and other factors must be considered. Rigid recipes that fit vaccine. This phenomena is referred to as maternal antibody
all production units are impractical and even dangerous if interference and is a potential reason for not vaccinating
not instituted in individual herds with professional care. very young calves against some infectious diseases.
Improper use of vaccines can result in cattle that are not However, there are vaccines that can produce an effective
adequately immunized. immune response, even in newborn animals. Consult with
your veterinarian regarding the use of vaccines in animals
General Considerations When less than 4 to 6 months of age.
Designing a Vaccination Program
Antiserums are made from the blood of animals that are Vaccination Programs for Beef
hyperimmunized to a given disease. They contain antibodies Cow-Calf Herds
against that disease and afford immediate protection. They Neonatal Calves
are of relatively short duration, usually providing protection Vaccines containing bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus
for only two or three weeks. Antiserum is given in fairly can be given orally to newborn calves. The oral MLV vaccine
large volumes, is usually expensive, and is not available for should be given prior to ingestion of colostrum or it will not
many infectious diseases. It is usually used in the face of a be activated.
disease outbreak such as enterotoxemia in nursing calves.

IBC 0111 February 2016

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Many veterinarians prefer to use injectable rotavirus/ performed on all replacement heifers that are to be kept in
coronavirus/E. coli in the dam prior to calving and depend the herd. There are many MLV vaccines approved for nursing
on colostral antibodies to protect calves. pregnant cows as long as the cow has been previously
vaccinated.
Vaccination of calves for infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis • IBR (infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis)
(IBR), bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), parainfluenza-3 (PI-3), • BVD (bovine virus diarrhea)
and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is usually • PI-3 (parainfluenza-3)
delayed until pasture turnout or pre-weaning. Veterinarians • BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus)
occasionally advise use of this vaccine in selected herds with • Mannheimia haemolytica
a history of these diseases in young calves, but this is not a • Histophilus somni
standard recommendation. Vaccination of neonatal calves • 7-way clostridia vaccine
with an intranasal IBR/PI-3/BRSV vaccine may be more
beneficial than standard injectable vaccines in young calves. Weaned Calves
Ideally calves should receive a second vaccination against
Pastured Beef Calves IBR, BVD, PI-3, and BRSV after weaning. Calves that did not
Clostridia receive pre-weaning vaccinations should be vaccinated at
Calves are usually vaccinated for the major clostridial weaning although the immune response may be decreased
diseases prior to pasture turnout with a 7-way clostridial due to the stress associated with weaning. As part of an
vaccine. Some clostridial vaccines can be given to newborn overall health program calves should be treated for parasites
calves but immunity will be improved if vaccination is at this time.
delayed until branding or grass turnout. The Clostridial
diseases include: Pre-breeding (beef cows and heifers)
• Clostridium chauvoei—Blackleg • Vaccination for viral reproductive diseases (IBR and
• Clostridium septicum—Malignant edema BVD) using a MLV vaccine 45 days prior to breeding
• Clostridium perfringens—Enterotoxemia (types B, C, is best time to provide protection for the cow herd.
and D) Replacement heifers should receive three vaccinations
• Clostridium sordellii—Sudden death (pre-weaning, weaning and pre-breeding) with a MLV
• Clostridium novyi—Sudden death IBR and BVD virus before their first breeding season.
• Clostridium haemolvtica—Redwater occurs in limited • Pre-breeding vaccination for vibrio and leptospirosis
endemic areas associated with liver flukes and is (5 strain) is optional for well managed beef herds.
uncommon in the Midwest and is not included in a Producers who only handle the breeding herd once per
standard 7-way clostridial vaccine. year should perform lepto vaccinations in the fall when
cows are pregnancy tested.
Pinkeye
In some herds, pinkeye is a continuous problem for calves The pre-breeding vaccinations should be done
during summer grazing season. Vaccines, either commercial approximately 5 to 6 weeks prior to breeding to avoid any
or autogenous, generally have poor efficacy. Vaccination possible vaccine induced stress or complications that could
of cows or neonatal calves is not rewarding as colostral affect fertility.
immunity is depleted or neonatal calves do not respond well.
To be most efficacious pinkeye vaccines should be given Pregnancy testing (beef cows and heifers)
when calves are 3 to 4 month of age prior to maximum risk Booster vaccinate cows and heifers if not vaccinated pre-
of disease in midsummer. breeding for:
• BR, PI-3, BVD, BRSV. Generally killed vaccines are used
Pre-weaning vaccinations in pregnant cows. Some MLV are approved for pregnant
Producers who intend to retain ownership of their calves or cows if the cows have been vaccinated previously with
desire to market preconditioned calves should vaccinate 14 that vaccine. Consult with your veterinarian before
to 21 days prior to weaning. The stressful weaning period giving MLV vaccines to pregnant cows.
is avoided so that calves have a better immune response • Leptospirosis vaccines should be boostered in herds that
and immunity is developed to respiratory disease prior to have a history of abortions due to leptospirosis, have
weaning, when risk is highest. This program also should be high risk of lepto exposure, or are a confined beef cow
operation.
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Pre-calving BRSV vaccine may be more beneficial than standard
Rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli—Scours vaccines should injectable vaccines in calves. In order to assure adequate
be given to replacement heifers twice, approximately six immune response, intranasal respiratory vaccines should
and three weeks prior to calving. Vaccinate cows once, be administered at 3 days of age or older. Intranasal
three weeks prior to calving, or twice according to the vaccines generally have a shorter duration of immunity
same schedule as first-calf heifers in herds not previously than injectable vaccines.
vaccinated or in problem herds.
• Recent research suggests that vaccinating calves against
Bulls Johnes disease is an effective aid in the control of this
IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV, and leptospirosis vaccines annually. disease. The vaccine can only be administered by
Herds with a risk of Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio) or a veterinarian and must be done according to state
Tritrichomonas foetus (Trich) may benefit from an annual regulations. Consult with your veterinarian regarding the
vaccination against one or both of these sexually transmitted need to use this vaccine in your herd.
diseases.
4 to 6 months of age
Vaccinating Feedlot Cattle • IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV
Feeder cattle should be vaccinated after arrival in the • Leptospirosis (5 strain)
feedlot. There are only very rare exceptions to this guideline. • Clostridial group – 7 or 8 way
Generally, a single MLV vaccine is recommended for feeder • Histophilus somnus (Needs to be risk based-consult
calves unless special circumstances exist. High risk calves with your veterinarian)
may benefit from an intranasal vaccine followed by a • De-worm
traditional injectable vaccine two weeks later. • Lice treatment
• Grub treatment in early fall, repeat as needed
Vaccinations on arrival
• IBR, PI-3, BVD, BRSV Pre-breeding
• 7-Way Clostridia (if calves have not previously received • BR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV
a Clostridial vaccine) • Leptospirosis (5 strain)
• Histophilus somni (not normally recommended in large • Clostridial group – 7 or 8 way
western feedyards) • De-worm
• Mannheimia haemolytica vaccination optional • Lice treatment
• Grub treatment in early fall, repeat as needed
Vaccination Programs for Dairy
Herds Pre-calving
Neonatal Calves • Clostridial group – 7 or 8 way
• An oral vaccine containing bovine rotavirus and bovine • E. coli mastitis vaccine at least twice, at six and three
coronavirus can be given orally to newborn calves. weeks prior to calving
The oral MLV vaccine should be given 30 minutes • Rotavirus, coronavirus, & E. coli scours vaccine twice, at
prior to ingestion of colostrum or it will be inactivated. six and three weeks prior to calving
Some veterinarians prefer to use injectable rotavirus/ • De-worm
coronavirus/E. coli in the dam prior to calving and • Lice treatment
depend on colostral antibodies to protect calves. • Grub treatment in early fall, repeat as needed

• Vaccination of calves for infectious bovine rhino- Adult Cows

tracheitis (IBR), bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), Cows are generally vaccinated for IBR, BVD, PI3, and BRSV
parainfluenza-3 (PI-3), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus, leptospirosis, clostridial, E. coli mastitis, and calf
virus (BRSV) is usually delayed until 3-6 months of age. diarrhea diseases during the lactation period and/or the
Veterinarians occasionally advise use of this vaccine in dry period. Modified live virus vaccines may not be able to
selected herds with a history of these diseases in young be used at this time. Consult with your veterinarian before
calves, but this is not a standard recommendation. using MLV products in pregnant cows.
Vaccination of neonatal calves with intranasal IBR/PI-3/

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Adult dairy cattle should be regularly treated for lice.
Frequency of such treatments depends upon exposure
and products used. This group of cattle is fairly resistant
to significant intestinal worm burdens; therefore, strategic
deworming programs are most effective. Consult with
your veterinarian to design a cost-effective parasite control
program.

Authors
Prepared by G. Dewell, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Beef Extension Veterinarian, Iowa State University, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production
Animal Medicine and P. Gorden, Senior Clinician, Iowa State University, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine.

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