Handle With Care: Getting the Most From Livestock Vaccines
Spring is a key time to set calves’ immunity up for summer and fall. Fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable moisture conditions are prime for disease to take hold.
Calves are especially susceptible to a variety of diseases, making springtime vaccinations an important step producers can take to protect herd health and keep cattle performing well.
Proper vaccine administration is especially important to ensure the immune response is robust. Improper handling reduces effectiveness, resulting in wasted resources.
The first step in proper vaccine use is reading the label on the bottle. The label gives information on dosages, withdrawal times, storage temperature and injection modes. The label also gives information on safety for pregnant females or young livestock.
Mixing directions are also found on the label. Modified live vaccines will be ineffective if mixed improperly.
It is important to keep vaccines at recommended temperatures while using to keep potency.
Protecting vaccines from heat and direct sunlight are also important steps in proper vaccination techniques. Exposure to elements degrades the components in vaccines, making them less effective or worthless, again wasting resources. Heat can also cause bacterial growth in vaccines which can be harmful when injected.
Knowing the correct injection site is also imperative. Subcutaneous injections – also referred to as SC or subQ – are administered under the skin. These are most common and help preserve meat and muscle. The injection is placed under the skin, usually in the neck.
Intramuscular (IM) is injected deep into the muscle in the neck. With either injection type, shots should be spaced around a hands width apart if multiple injections are required at the same time.
Needles should be changed frequently – every 10 to 15 head or about every 10 minutes in a large livestock vaccination setting. Needles which are bent, contaminated, dull or have burs should be changed immediately. A new needle should be used each time more vaccine is loaded into a syringe. If an animal is sick, a new needle should be used each time.
Reducing the time vaccine is loaded into a syringe is another important consideration. Vaccines should be used within 30 to 60 minutes of loading. Don’t mix or load more doses than can be used within this time.
The vaccine begins to degrade when exposed to air, light and heat. A fresh mix of vaccine ensures animals are getting the most benefit and potency of the vaccine.
Disposal of vaccines and needles is another step in proper vaccine protocol. Partial vaccine vials should never be reused, as this can compromise effectiveness and safety. Using a biohazard sharps container for needles will reduce the likelihood of accidental needle sticks or unintended injections.
Clearly marking containers as biohazard and properly securing them at the end of vaccination helps prevent used needles from ending up in the wrong hands and makes it safer for sanitation workers.
Vaccinations are one of the best tools we have to protect livestock health. Taking the time to handle, administer and dispose of them properly ensures producers get the most value for their dollar while keeping animals healthy, productive and performing their best.
Sara Fleenor is the University of Wyoming Extension agriculture and natural resources educator serving Crook County. She can be reached at sfleenor@uwyo.edu or 307-283-1192.
