Calf Talk

April, 2010

Volume 16, No. 4

HOW WE USE MODIFIED LIVE VIRUS VACCINES

By: Russ Schnepper, D.V.M.

I have used modified live virus vaccine for treatment for over twenty five years, and it still works. My original baby calf programs used modified live virus vaccines in a preventative program. We injected the MLV on Day One and Day Eight. Formerly it was believed the baby calf could not develop immunity to vaccine. Canadian research has proven the new born calf can develop immunity to vaccines at birth. In addition to the immunity that develops, I am using the MLV for the interferon that is produced by the calf’s body when the calf is vaccinated with a Modified Live Virus Vaccine. Interferon acts as Mother Nature’s own medicine and is effective against both bacterial and viral pathogens. I believe the major effect of the interferon lasts about three days. I use it the first day the calf is placed in a facility to help the calf through the adjustment of having new neighbors and a new home. I also vaccinate the calf again on Day Eight, as our experience has been that calves given another dose of MLV vaccine on the eighth day have a lower mortality rate and there is not as much subsequent individual treatment required. It is very important the calf have a good first week. The Holstein calf normally has Pasteurella multocida organisms in its upper respiratory tract. A stress on the calf that suppresses its immune system allows the Pasteurella bacteria to start multiplying at a high rate and in fourteen days they have moved down into the lungs and you have a full blown pneumonia. When you see a calf with pneumonia the problem developed two weeks ago. A healthy first week goes a long way in preventing the pneumonia that usually develops the second and third week. My current calf program uses Immunoboost on Day One and Day Eight in lieu of the MLV vaccine. Interferon is produced with in two hours following an injection of Immunoboost and the interferon lasts for seven days at a much higher level than is obtained with the MLV.

Vaccinate with MLV vaccine and/or give Immunoboost at the time of moving the calves from individual pens to groups. Repeating the vaccine 10 days later saves lots of individual treatments. Every time a group is regrouped all the calves should be vaccinated again with MLV vaccines or given Immunoboost. Avoid mixing calves.

A respiratory infection that develops after the calf is five weeks of age or older can be effectively treated by the interferon that is produced by a repeat MLV vaccination. It is important to realize that the vaccine causes an immune response in the calf and it will run a fever after injection. A calf with a fever may not want to eat well, so the day after vaccinating with an MLV the calf may look worse. The second day post vaccination the calf looks about like it did the day of vaccination. By the third day the calf is usually up and running. Do I vaccinate sick calves? I certainly do. I have tried waiting until the calves looked good to vaccinate, and I never seem to find that time period. Every time I have delayed vaccinating the calves have become worse. Vaccination in the face of a disease break puts a stop to the development of new cases and improves the sick ones. The immune system requires selenium to function properly. Repeat a selenium injection (MuSe, BoSe, or a generic) if it has been more than two weeks since the calf has had an injection of selenium. Immunoboost given at the same time as MLV is best.

Any brand of MLV will work for the interferon production. Killed vaccines do not.

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