Vaccination - Articles - Page 2

Investing in the first 60 days: How early-life vaccination prepares calves for feedlot success

When done correctly, early-life vaccination helps calves handle the stressors of branding, weaning, transport and feedlot entry with resilience.

October 14, 2025

Selena Davila

When done correctly, early-life vaccination helps calves handle the stressors of branding, weaning, transport and feedlot entry with resilience.

Are PI calves undermining your herd?

A PI calf can wreak havoc on a herd due to its own poor immune system and regular shedding of bovine viral diarrhea virus. BVDV PI calf prevention begins with effective biosecurity and targeted vaccination.

October 3, 2025

Jennifer Roberts

Persistently infected (PI) calves shed bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) with every breath and drop of saliva. They don’t just live with the virus – they spread it, continuously and invisibly, exposing every animal around them to the disease, which can impact overall herd health and performance.

Maximizing profits: Strategies for marketing a successful calf crop

Shipping the annual calf crop to the local auction barn without considering the multiple factors involved might not provide the most bang for your buck. Think about these expert-provided tactics to improve your selling odds.

August 5, 2025

Bruce Derksen

Cattle producers invest a massive amount of time, effort and money in raising the best calves possible. Whether selling at the local auction barn, a value-added sale, from the farm site, to a nearby feedlot or via another method, the results of their long-term investments depend on many factors.

5 foundations for managing newly weaned and received calves

Weaning and receiving is perhaps the most stressful time in a beef animal’s life. Adhering to some key considerations when calves get to your place will pay big dividends in their immunity and performance.

July 17, 2025

Chris Zellmer

It’s typical for newly weaned or sale barn-acquired calves to experience multiple stressors simultaneously when brought onto the farm. This might be the first time those animals are introduced to new feeds. In addition to the new diet, there is a new home along with new penmates and a social hierarchy. These changes then can compound on top of the stress of removing the calf from their dam.

3 aspects of herd health that will add more pounds per calf

Improving reproduction and minimizing stress are vitally important in making sure your herd meets its efficiency and profitability potential.

July 1, 2025

Kristina Porter

After more than 15 years of practicing in a large-animal clinic, a veterinarian pinpoints three herd health issues on which producers can take action to add pounds to their calves and efficiency to their operations.

Preventing vaccine failures

Proper nutrition, reduced stress and strategic scheduling are essential for effective immunization.

June 19, 2025

Chris Chase

Most “vaccine failures” are not due to the vaccine itself but to the animal’s immune system not being ready – often due to poor timing. The immune system’s job isn’t to prevent disease but to maintain health, which requires appropriate management, sound nutrition, low stress, biosecurity and a well-planned vaccine program.

Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal

Managing the calf crop to enhance marketability is essential to achieving higher returns. For smaller cow-calf operations, committing to profitability and understanding the buyer’s needs is key to garnering increased interest in their calves.

June 4, 2025

Bruce Derksen

Making a calf crop stand out to buyers is critical for profitability and long-term success, regardless of an operation’s size. While smaller farms may feel disadvantaged by these efforts, they can significantly enhance their calves’ appeal and secure higher prices using simple but often overlooked methods.

Immunity: More than a vaccine

Vaccines aid cow immunity, but full immune health relies on trace minerals like zinc, copper and selenium. Proper supplementation enhances disease resistance and vaccine effectiveness.

May 27, 2025

Craig J. Louder

While vaccines contribute greatly to a cow’s immune system, there are other aspects of the immune system that should not be forgotten. Ensuring that essential elements such as trace minerals are provided, allows for the cow’s entire immune system to be ready to fight off an invasion, not just relying on the special forces.

When pinkeye vaccines fail

Pinkeye can be a challenge in cattle; however, vaccination, environmental management and custom vaccines can help to effectively prevent and treat the disease. Additional factors can influence your vaccine effectiveness.

May 5, 2025

Jason Shumaker

Pinkeye in cattle presents a significant challenge for producers, impacting animal performance and requiring costly and time-consuming treatments. Vaccination against pinkeye is crucial in a producer's prevention strategy, alongside effective fly, weed and dust control with appropriate trace mineral supplementation.