
Vaccination program helps calves look better, do better
Calf raiser J Hall has a few rules for calves in his care. āBefore 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.
āWhen 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. āThe 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. āOnce they are a little older, they get a five-way viral/five-way lepto and pinkeye vaccine,ā he says.
āWe booster with BOVILIS NASALGEN 3 when we move calves from hutches to the barn at 10 weeks old,ā Hall explains. āThatās 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 theyāve been available. āWe switched to BOVILIS NASALGEN 3 when it came on the market,ā he continues. āBOVILIS NASALGEN 3 works better for us. Weāre very happy with it.ā
Hall also appreciates how easy it is on the calves. āThey donāt even notice that youāve given it to them. It doesnāt affect them at all,ā he says.
He also likes the blue diluent when administered: āIt makes a little tint on the calfās nose, so you know itās been treated.ā
