Calf Talk

May, 2005

Volume 11, No. 5

WE NEED MODIFIED LIVE VIRUS VACCINE WITH IMMUNOBOOST

By: Russ Schnepper, D. V. M.

Many calf raisers that are using Immunoboost have stopped using antibiotics and vaccines the first week. We have noticed an increase in respiratory disease in some barns that eliminated the modified live virus vaccines on both day one and day eight

We have been using Immunoboost to cause the calf to produce the interferon. Immunoboost causes the calf's own immune system to produce huge amounts of interferon, which lasts for seven days. The interferon is produced within a few hours of the Immunoboost injection. We can eliminate the first day's virus vaccine injections by using Immunoboost. I am recommending the vaccine be given on day eight. If you give the first modified live injection on day eight, do not repeat it until after the calf is more than four weeks old. Vaccinating the calf with a modified live vaccine between two and four weeks of age is detrimental. You will have more sick and dead calves than if you did not vaccinate during this two to four-week time period.

I am recommending you give the Immunoboost and the other injections (Selenium, Endovac bovi, etc.) on day one. Due to stress considerations, I do everything to the calf day one that I want to do the first week, and then make friends with the baby instead of scaring it to death every day. After the first day, do not give your vaccines and/or other routine preventive injections until day eight. The calf that has been in your facility, without being harassed for a week will regard you as a friend and allow you to give an injection without causing adrenalin to flow. Immunoboost can be repeated day eight, at the same time as the modified live vaccine. Repeat the Immunoboost one or more times as needed, but not more often than at seven day intervals. Immunoboost enhances the calf's immune response to any vaccine given at the same time, provided the calf is in a good state of nutrition.

Immunoboost can replace the antibiotics that are usually fed the first few days of the program. Antibiotics do not interfere with the Immunoboost. Immunoboost the first week allows us to use probiotics effectively. Using antibiotics and probiotics at the same time is a good way to waste your money and get no results. I feel we are seeing gut problems in the baby calf from too many antibiotics. Immunoboost allows us to cut back on the antibiotics. Immunoboost and Gammulin are very compatible.

In conclusion, I recommend you use Immunoboost on day one to replace virus vaccines and antibiotics that are normally used the first week and inject Modified Live Virus vaccine, with Immunoboost on day eight. Do not forget Selenium and Vitamin E.

Crypto must be handled. Use the decoquinate to control the cryptosporidiosis.

There is no legal withdrawal period for gentamicin in cattle.. Rather given orally or by injection, the gentamicin will be present in the animal carcass for at least 18 months. Recently there were 180 fat steers condemned at slaughter for gentamicin residues. Baby calves treated orally with gentamicin, test positive at slaughter as fat steers. This is one risk you can not afford to take. DO NOT USE GENTAMICIN, BY ANY ROUTE, IN CATTLE.

Contact information for ordering information and questions about our products:

Schnepper International, Inc.

3210 County B, Platteville, WI 53818

608-348-6141, Fax: 608-348-6146