Vaccination program helps calves look better, do better

Calf raiser J Hall has a few rules for calves in his care. ā€œBefore we pick up a calf, we ask that it has been given a gallon of colostrum, had its navel dipped, been tagged and is being kept in a clean, dry place. We also want that calf to have been given BOVILISĀ® NASALGENĀ® 3. 

ā€œWhen Merck Animal Health came out with BOVILIS NASALGEN 3, we started using it on a regular basis. It allows for a strong, early immune response since the vaccine goes directly to the mucosal surfaces of the nose,ā€ he adds. ā€œThe calves look better, and they do better. We see less snotty noses and less coughing.ā€ 

During the four to five months the calves are at Halls Calf Ranch, they are vaccinated twice for bovine coronavirus, the first at one week and a booster at four weeks. They are vaccinated for salmonella at four to five weeks of age, and pasteurella pneumonia at six weeks. ā€œOnce they are a little older, they get a five-way viral/five-way lepto and pinkeye vaccine,ā€ he says.

ā€œWe booster with BOVILIS NASALGEN 3 when we move calves from hutches to the barn at 10 weeks old,ā€ Hall explains. ā€œThat’s a stress point when we move them, so we give it again.ā€

Halls Calf Ranch has been using intranasal vaccines for as long as they’ve been available. ā€œWe switched to BOVILIS NASALGEN 3 when it came on the market,ā€ he continues. ā€œBOVILIS NASALGEN 3 works better for us. We’re very happy with it.ā€

Hall also appreciates how easy it is on the calves. ā€œThey don’t even notice that you’ve given it to them. It doesn’t affect them at all,ā€ he says.

He also likes the blue diluent when administered: ā€œIt makes a little tint on the calf’s nose, so you know it’s been treated.ā€

J Hall, Halls Calf Ranch, Luxemburg, Wisconsin and Gladwin, Michigan