Pre-breeding
Beef Health Programs
Hear Dr. Kerry Barling explain how
reproductive and respiratory diseases can cause problems if cattle
aren't worked at pre-breeding and turnout.
Objectives:
- Boost cow immunity
right before the critical breeding season
- Achieve a short breeding
cycle and thus a more uniform calf crop
- Ensure a healthy calf from
every cow
Challenges:
- Diseases that cause abortion, or that
result in weak or persistently infected calves, including
vibriosis, leptospirosis, IBR, BVD, BRSV and somnus
- Risk of sudden death
caused by clostridial diseases like blackleg
A pre-breeding vaccination program provides protection through
the critical breeding and gestation periods. Vaccinations at this
prevention point not only protect your cows, heifers and bulls from
reproductive and respiratory diseases but also keep this year’s
calf crop healthy. Your herd is prepared for a healthy calf crop
next season, too.
Selection and timing of BVD protection is crucial at this point.
The BVD virus suppresses the immune system and manifests itself
in numerous ways. The most problematic form of BVD causes persistently
infected (PI) calves, which shed the infective virus throughout
their lives and can be devastating to a herd. PI calves occur when
unprotected cows or heifers are infected with noncytopathic virus
between 40 and 120 days of gestation. Thus, a vaccination program
that is implemented just prior to breeding reduces the risk of PI
calves, as well as other diseases that can be spread during the
breeding season.
Novartis developed the ImmPact
pre-breeding & branding/turnout
program to help you produce healthy cattle. With ImmPact in place,
you offer buyers cattle that are ready to perform. Think of it as
your pact with the industry to produce healthy cattle and healthy
market relationships.
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