Vaccinating your herd is like buying insurance. Just like choosing an insurance policy, the set of vaccines you select should be based on your level of risk. A vaccination program based on your herd’s risk level will minimize disease and optimize production, while keeping the cost of preventative health at a reasonable level. 
You’ll also benefit from the peace of mind knowing your cattle are less prone to disease, and having a good reputation for healthy cattle with buyers.
Having a good relationship with your veterinarian is especially important in developing a vaccination program that best suits your herd.
In this episode of the Beef Research School, Dr. Nathan Erickson of Veterinary Agri-Health Services explains how to determine the risk level of your herd, which vaccines to deliver to each risk group, and describes a new vaccine on the market. He also offers tips on what to do if you suspect a broken needle, as well as how to prevent injection site lesions that must be trimmed off the carcass and discarded.
See the video here: http://www.realagriculture.com/2013/08/beef-research-school-matching-a-vaccination-program-to-each-herds-risk-level/
Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of the Beef Research School. Past episodes covered trich and vibrio, riparian zone assessment and restoration, and forage rejuvenation. For more information on the Beef Research School, visit www.beefresearch.ca/blog/new-video-series/
Learn more
How to prevent injection site lesions – video (10:03)
BeefResearch.ca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JgO4jIRqY8&feature=share&list=PL16s0XbcZVIvaDefWFqY3T3CzIeLlIhi2
Broken Needles in Beef: Prevention and Responsibility
BCRC Blog – October 2, 2012
http://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/broken-needles/
Vaccination Guidelines
VIDO Beef Technical Group
http://www.vido.org/pdfs/vbtg/VaccinationGuidelines.05.pdf
On-farm biosecurity manual protects cattle health: producer manual now available
BCRC Blog – April 30, 2013
http://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/biosecurity-producer-manual/
Injection Techniques for Beef Cattle
Verified Beef Production
http://www.verifiedbeef.org/downloads/factsheets/injection_site_technique_poster.pdf
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