Richard Linhart

Modified-live versus killed vaccines: What are the differences?

The risk for disease in cattle depends on many factors. How a vaccine is selected depends on factors that include what organism we wish to vaccinate against.

September 25, 2025

Richard Linhart

Cattle vaccines are generally available in one of two different forms, either modified-live or attenuated products, or killed or inactivated products. Each type of vaccine has its unique properties, advantages and disadvantages, and its place in a herd health program.

Why respiratory vaccines seem to fail

Effective cattle management, vaccine selection, timing and nutrition are necessary for cattle respiratory vaccines to be effective. When coupled with realistic expectations, vaccination of cattle for BRD can be greatly beneficial and rewarding.

October 10, 2024

Richard Linhart

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), or pneumonia, is the most common cause of death in cattle over 4 months old. Many different commercial vaccines are available for protection against organisms that cause BRD, but sometimes cattle get BRD even when they are vaccinated.

Vaccine-adverse reactions: How to minimize the lumps and bumps

Vaccinations are meant to help prevent and treat disease. However, adverse reactions can range in severity from mild temporary lumps and bumps to sudden systemic anaphylactic shock with fluid accumulation in the lungs and death.

May 10, 2024

Richard Linhart

Vaccine products that are administered to cattle are foreign to the animal’s body. The goal is for the body to recognize these foreign organisms and develop an immune response for protection in the event of a future disease challenge.

Histophilosis-caused issues in feedlot cattle

H. somni can be difficult to detect and treat and can cause a variety of clinical syndromes in feedlot cattle including pneumonia, thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TME), reproductive disease, joint infections and more.

January 4, 2023

Richard Linhart

Although feedlot cattle of any age are potentially at risk, H. somni is more common in recently weaned and/or shipped cattle.

Control Clostridium perfringens type A bacteria levels in calves

Clostridium perfringens type A (CpA), if allowed to overgrow because of excess starch or carbohydrates in the ration, can result in sudden death.

November 30, 2022

Richard Linhart

Clostridium perfringens type A (CpA) has been associated with serious gastrointestinal disease in young dairy and beef calves, resulting in sudden death.

Trich still brings challenges to beef producers after 130 years

February 23, 2018

Richard Linhart

Tritrichomonas foetus is a sexually transmitted disease of cattle. T. foetus, more commonly called trich, was first discovered in 1888 in France. Unfortunately, 130 years later, this disease remains a significant challenge for cattle producers.

Progressive Dairy

Progressive Dairy Canada

PD Canada en Francais

Progressive Cattle

Progressive Cattle Canada

Progressive Forage

Agproud Idaho

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Richard Linhart

ARTICLES

Modified-live versus killed vaccines: What are the differences?

Why respiratory vaccines seem to fail

Vaccine-adverse reactions: How to minimize the lumps and bumps

Histophilosis-caused issues in feedlot cattle

Control Clostridium perfringens type A bacteria levels in calves

Trich still brings challenges to beef producers after 130 years

Heat and sun safety on the farm

A closer look: Reading the mineral tag

How rising temperatures are affecting dairy cow fertility in Canada

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