Advice on vaccination programs for feedlot cattle |
The aim of an effective vaccination program for feedlot cattle is to provide animals at point of entry to the feedlot, protection from the major preventable diseases, which can occur under commercial feedlot conditions.
To achieve this, all vaccines need to be used in accordance with the registration claims on the label as approved by the registration authorities. Off-label use should only be under the advice of your veterinarian. |
Recommendations are:
• Check the expiry date and use before that date.
• Vaccines need to be kept cool at 2-8°C in the lower part of the refrigerator to avoid freezing.
• Only remove the required amount of vaccine from the refrigerator to be used on the day. Keep it in an esky with sufficient ice bricks, until required.
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight.
• Ensure the vaccine pack remains agitated while in use to ensure that the vaccine remains in suspension and there is no settling of the vaccine either in the pack or the draw-off tube.
• Sterilising your Vaccinator
|
- 1. Connect the handpiece to the feed tube, fit the needle and lock tightly.
- 2. Pump the handpiece until it is filled with water and then suspend the handpiece and the feed tube in a container of
boiling water.
- 3. Boil the equipment for 30 minutes.
- 4. Remove the instrument from the container, wrap a cloth around the handle and pump dry.
|
Note: It is neither necessary, nor desirable to dismantle the handle, or any other component, before sterilising.
• It is recommended that the needle is changed every 50 head.
• Where possible, avoid vaccination during wet weather or in dusty yards. If vaccination needs to occur under these conditions, then needles should be replaced more frequently than every 50 head.
• Recommended needle size for cattle is either 18G or 16G and 15mm in length.
• Adjustable dose vaccinators should be checked for the delivery of the correct dose by testing for the correct volume being delivered after 50-100 doses using boiled water.
• The vaccination site on the animals should be high on the neck to avoid any potential carcase damage if there is an untoward injection site reaction.
• Partially used containers of vaccine should be discarded as per manufacturers instructions to avoid the use of potentially contaminated or ineffective vaccines. |
|
