As producers and veterinarians consider vaccination programs, it’s important to understand the key differences between autogenous and commercial vaccines.

While disease prevention remains the primary purpose of vaccine programs, a well-designed vaccination protocol is now an essential marketing strategy for producers selling calves into value-added and graded feeder sales.

Technology intersects many segments of agriculture with applications extending into animal health for prevention, detection and treatment of illness. Many of the newer tools are aimed at blending data collection, analysis and specialized interventions.

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

When it comes to any disease treatment, it’s imperative to match the drug to the bug – or in other words, use the correct class of antibiotic to control the disease-causing bacteria at hand. The same holds for anti-infectives used to treat bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

To minimize the economic impact of infectious disease in our cattle, it is important that we work together with our veterinarian to develop well-designed preventive health programs. Essential components of those programs are the vaccines we select and the schedule we utilize.

To treat or not to treat? That’s the question producers often face when it comes to re-treating sick calves. It's hard to treat a calf for respiratory disease and not see immediate results. But sticking to an antibiotic’s designated post-treatment interval (PTI) is essential for both calf health and producer success.

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.

Taking your calves to auction can feel like a gamble. But what if you could stack the deck in your favor so your calves have a better chance of fetching top dollar? Investing in the right management practices and health protocols can communicate that your calves are ready to face the challenges ahead and are a smart bet for buyers.

NSAIDs are used to reduce pain, inflammation and fever and can be beneficial when used to treat cattle experiencing symptoms of BRD.