“Take Care” To: Process and Protect Them Properly Philip W. Widel DVM Technical Services Veterinarian Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

Process and Protect Our goals should be to process in a manner to minimize tissue (carcass) damage while providing maximum protection from the products we use

To Understand Protection Is to Understand Immunity to Disease Immunity –Ability to protect against specific diseases by producing antibodies and cellular immunity against those disease organisms

Protective Level A relative term. The level of immunity to protect will depend upon the severity of the challenge.

How Immunization Occurs By natural exposure - disease occurrence By vaccination with biological product By transfer of passive immunity in colostrum or antiserum (temporary)

Objectives of Vaccination Individual protection, herd immunity and bio-security Reduce reproductive losses Improve performance Program participation - requirements to increase value and marketability

KEY DEFINITIONS Vaccination –application of a vaccine Immunization –the process of making immune

The Healthy Herd (Animal) Time Resistance Challenge Levels

Effect of Increased Challenge Time Resistance Challenge Levels Disease Symptoms

Effect of Declining Immunity Time Resistance Challenge Levels Disease Symptoms

Goal of Vaccination Program Time Resistance Challenge Levels Increased Resistance Through Proper Vaccination and Booster

Importance of Proper Timing Time Resistance Challenge Levels

Further Considerations Ability of Animal to Properly Respond to Vaccination: –Age and Maternal Interference –Response Levels –Stress –Nutrition –Parasitism Vaccine considerations: –Modified Live –Killed –Proper Booster Vaccinations –Storage, Preparation and Administration

Additive Stress Immunity Wean Transport DietChange Process Weather Challenge

Vaccine Considerations Modified Live Viral Products Killed Viral Products Proper Boostering of Vaccinations

Types of Vaccines Used Killed or inactivated –Includes killed or inactivated viruses, bacterins, and toxoids

Killed Virus Vaccine Advantages Safe in pregnant animals Labeled for use in calves nursing pregnant cows Handling considerations –No mixing –Stable

Killed Virus Vaccine Disadvantages Require an adjuvant Injection site reactions Less cell mediated immunity (cytototoxic T cells) Slower immune system response Require multiple doses –1 st dose = primes/sensitizes –2 nd dose = immunizes Hypersensitivity risk

Immune Response Following Vaccination (KV) Time Initial Vaccination Protective Level

Stimulation of Immunity with a Killed Product Time Initial Vaccination Booster Protective Level

Immune Response Following Vaccination Time Initial Vaccination Protective Level Dose Administered Months Later

The Need for Boosters Most bacterins and clostridials also need to be properly boostered. Adjuvants can make a difference in the need to booster.

MLV Vaccine Advantages Rapid, longer-lasting protection Stimulate antibody and cell mediated immunity Stimulate interferon production Stimulate immune response more similar to natural infection Less expensive Less irritation - no adjuvant - smaller dose

MLV vaccines One dose starts initial immune system stimulation. Organism continues to grow (replicate) so that stimulation of the immune system is continued until a level of immunity is created that can overwhelm and destroy the organism.

MLV Vaccine Disadvantages Immunosuppression (stress) -- BVD primarily Handling considerations –UV light, temperature, mixing, storage May revert to virulent state (rare!!!!) Label precautions with pregnancy

Storage, Preparation and Administration Follow label instructions. Avoid heat, freezing temperatures and sunlight. Avoid disinfectants with MLV products. Administer SQ or IM as labeled and in accordance with BQA principles.

Successful Immunization Requires Health susceptible animal Proper administration Safe, viable and potent vaccine

When Should We Vaccinate?

Not Whenever we can catch the cows After we finish harvest The next rainy day When the kids and the neighbors are available to help

CONSIDER AN ADULT COW CYCLE 60 DAY BREEDING SEASON Preg Check

Where Do We Vaccinate?

NCBA recommends that all injections whether subcutaneous or intramuscular be made in front of the shoulder.

Calf was slaughtered over a year after being vaccinated intramuscularly at branding time. Study run by Colorado State University.

Injection - Site Subcutaneous “Knots”

Subcutaneous Vaccine Reaction –”knot”

Subcutaneous Injection “Knots” Should Not Be A Pricing Issue Are not a defect to the hide, carcass, or other salable product Are of no concern to the health and quality of the animal Indicates that the animal has been vaccinated, (a practice to be encouraged) and that the vaccination response has not been impeded And, SHOULD NOT be a point for pricing discount of the cattle

Subcutaneous Injection “Knots” Should Not Be A Pricing Issue The NCBA Beef Quality Assurance Task Force encourages all individuals buying feeder and/or finished cattle to make every effort to see that any such surface vaccine blemishes (knots) are NOT noted as a value discounting issue.

Subcutaneous Vaccine Reaction “Not an Abscess”

Same bull, 10 months later/ Swelling is gone

Feedlot steer with vaccine “knot”

Subcutanous vaccine “knots” come off when the hide is pulled

The “Not My Problem” Syndrome Will Not Fix the Injection-Site Lesion Problem Every Cattleman, Veterinarian and Drug/ Vaccine Manufacturer Has a Responsibility

ABCD Questions????