Farm Horizons
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spray produced from modified live viruses.
“This tricks the calf’s immune system into thinking it
caught the disease, so it develops immunities,” Thornsberry said.
He noted that the spray can be given a few hours after
a calf is born, or the following day (once the mucous
clears from the nasal passages). The sprays have “no
negative impact” to the calf, he said, and they protect
against a wide range of viruses.
Injectable vaccines are another form of protection.
“We do have vaccines that are safe for newborn
calves,” Thornsberry said, giving the example of Vira
Shield 6, an oil-based vaccine made from inactivated
viruses.
“It has six different strains in it,” Thornsberry said.
Thornsberry said he usually waits to give a live injectable virus until a calf weighs about 300 pounds.
One tip he gave is not to shake vaccines once they’re
mixed, because shaking can alter the contents. Similarly, farmers should be careful not to get too much
disinfectant on the needle, because it can deactivate the
vaccine. Instead of dipping, Thornsberry recommends
gently wiping the needle with disinfectant.
April 4
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Page 6
For specific vaccination and colostrum management
procedures, Thornsberry advises farmers to work with
their local veterinarians, who can guide them on what is
best for their particular operation. n
Starrla Cray, Herald Journal associate editor, can
be reached at [email protected]
Photo by Starrla Cray
In addition to listening to presenters, attendees of the 2016
Carver County Dairy Expo enjoyed lunch. The expo also featured several business vendors, as well as door prizes.