FEEDLOT PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT UPDATE - CLOSTRIDIAL VACCINES - TIMING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Preventing clostridial diseases is a primary component of most basic h erd health programs. In regions in which there is high prevalence of c lostridial disease, it is necessary to routinely administer vaccines t hat prevent the rapidly fatal clostridial diseases. Sound recommendati ons concerning Vaccination are difficult to make because of the cast o f injection-site lesions and reduced consumption of feed resulting fro m clostridial vaccination. Producers and veterinarians thus must striv e to determine the optimum time and frequency of vaccination to preven t mortality caused by clostridial disease. The mast commonly used comm ercially available products are the 7-way clostridial vaccines. these products are sometimes administered even when not all of the antigens are necessary in a given production setting or geographic region. Vete rinarians should be aware of the adverse consequences and inflammatory responses associated with multiple clostridial vaccination. Such resp onses increase the acute-phase protein haptoglobin, reduce feed intake , and produce unsightly blemishes. The challenge for practitioners to develop a complete vaccination program to protect cattle from fatal di sease but avoid production losses and defects in carcasses or hides.