Getting Cattle Winter Ready: Vaccinations, Timing & Animal Health

As part of the Getting Winter Ready series, Catherine Egan is joined on this week’s Beef Edge podcast by MSD Animal Health Veterinary Manager, Cara Sheridan, to discuss an important part of preparing cattle for winter housing: vaccination.

With cattle being housed and weanlings coming into sheds in the weeks ahead, Cara discusses what farmers should be considering when it comes to vaccination programmes, timing and administration.

Cara outlines the key respiratory diseases affecting housed cattle, including RSV, PI3, Mannheimia and IBR, as well as the importance of vaccination against clostridial diseases.

She explains how far in advance of housing that vaccines should be administered, how two-shot programmes should be timed, and the importance of following the specific instructions on the product label.

Cara also  highlights whether different vaccines can be administered together, considerations for bought-in cattle, and some of the most common vaccination mistakes — from poor storage and handling to incorrect administration and failing to complete a vaccination course.

Finally, Cara shares a practical checklist for farmers preparing cattle for housing in the coming weeks.

For further details on Vaccination programmes for dairy-beef farms

View the Animal Health Ireland Cattle Vaccination Information Leaflet

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