The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: chongo on October 26, 2013, 09:14:31 pm
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Hi,
Could people please tell me what you routinely vaccinate against? I am thinking of expanding our smallholding to include some cattle and wanted to get an idea of the vaccination costs etc.
Thanks
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Hi, chongo
We have a small herd of Shetland cattle; we started with two weaned heifer calves in October 2010. We still have them (just scanned in calf with their third calves due mid /end May next year), their calves from 2012 (a bullock and a heifer, that's now in calf due mid/end May next year), their calves from 2013 (a bullock and a heifer), and a young bull (the sire of next year's calves).
I'm just telling you this so that you appreciate that we are not longstanding cattle breeders.
We haven't vaccinated for anything other than Schmallenberg in summer 2013 (breeding females only).
We've had a TB test and our annual BVD tests. We foot trim once a year (well, a foot trimmer does ;D ), we worm and fluke, by drench previously but might use a pour-on this year, and we use a pour-on (Cooper's Spot-on) for external parasites in the summer and at housing.
The females have all been jagged at some point by the vet to ensure that they weren't in calf - as heifers that had been running with the bull (Shetlands mature early and heifers calving at 15 months of age is not uncommon but not something we wanted to chance).
But no routine vaccinations. Is there anything in particular that you are concerned about?
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No nothing in particular really just getting an idea. I'm happy with my sheep routine but cattle is still a mystery. Is the routine test for BVD mandatory like the TB test? Is BVD something you would vaccinate against?
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BVD testing is mandatory in Scotland; don't know about anywhere else.
You can vaccinate for BVD but it depends on your circumstances - best to take veterinary advice.
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Dont fix it if it aint brocken is my mantra with the cattle. dont vaccinate for anything unless i have a problem.
you can do your bvd testing with cattle ear tags now. we use them, everything born is tagged as normal, but the tags take a tissue sample. i collect them up for a week or 2 in the fridge then take them to the vets. i then get a phone call a week later telling me i am all clear.
all done!
dom
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Dont fix it if it aint brocken is my mantra with the cattle. dont vaccinate for anything unless i have a problem.
you can do your bvd testing with cattle ear tags now. we use them, everything born is tagged as normal, but the tags take a tissue sample. i collect them up for a week or 2 in the fridge then take them to the vets. i then get a phone call a week later telling me i am all clear.
all done!
dom
I agree with Dom and so does my vet, by and large.
I forgot about the tags - might try that next year, although the vet PD's the cows and castrated the bull calf while he was here too ;D
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Rather a late reply to this I'm afraid but wanted to make a point. If you buy your cattle from an accredited herd, and have good bio security (ie making sure your cattle can't rub noses with the ones next door and have a clean water supply), you probably won't need to vaccinate. The main cattle diseases for which there are vaccines are BVD, IBR and Leptospirosis. Schmallenberg vaccine may be wise but take your vet's advice. It cannot be given to pregnant animals.