Vaccinating Calves

Hello, my name is Jonathan Bares. I grew up on a farm around cattle learning exactly how to take care of them from the moment we bought them as calves up until we brought them to market as fourteen-hundred-pound animals. Vaccinations are one thing that will be done multiple times throughout the span of raising cattle it is not a one and done thing. This will help prevent future problems with the calves and increase the chance to turn a profit. After seeing successes from all farmers who practice vaccinations it is easy to see that it is a good practice to get into.

Supplies

For this project a syringe, proper medications in this case Draxxin and Nasalgen, a transfer needle, cannula, a calf, and an aluminum needle will all be needed.

Step 1: Preperation

To begin this process, find out the weight of the cattle that you will be vaccinating, this does not need to be an exact number. The amount needed based on the weight of the cattle will be specified on the bottle of the medication. For this example, nasalgen has a set amount regardless of weight. However, draxin is a medication that is weight based for the doses. Draxin is not a vaccination it is a general immunity drug this is important to help the calves’ immune systems because when they are moved the stress on them from the new environment weakens their immunity.

After that, find out the amount of cattle being vaccinated because the vaccine cannot be returned to the bottle once it has been drawn out. If the number of cattle is unknown vaccine would be wasted by having too much. Once the number of calves is determined, the proper amount of the vaccine will need to be mixed and drawn out of the bottle. The information needed for this number can be found on the bottle or box of the vaccination. For the two part vaccines a transfer needle will be needed to mix the diluent to the virus. Attach a needle to the end of the syringe to remove the vaccine from the bottle. Next swap the needle of the syringe with the nasalgen in it to a specific plastic needle that is going to be used to safely apply the vaccine to the calves’ nostrils.

Step 2: Applying the Medicines

Now that the proper amount of the vaccine is mixed and, in the syringes, go to where the calf is. Restrain the calf to prevent harm to the calf or yourself during this process. This will also prevent missing and waste any of the medication. This can be done with a headgate and shoot, however when they are young it is easier and more effective to get in the pen with them and straddle the calf. This works to restrain the calf and give you control over the situation; it also saves time because by not having to run them all through a shoot and head gate individually. 

Once the calf is restrained and you are in a position of control it is time to give the shots. Take the syringe with the Draxxin in it with the needle on the end slide it under the skin of the calf in the neck so the needle doesn’t go into the muscle this is done by going in at an angle rather than strait into the hide. After the needle is under the skin of the calf squeeze the trigger of the syringe to inject the vaccine. Then remove the syringe and release the trigger, make sure that the skin is not folded, and the needle pierces the fold this would cause the injection to be outside the skin rather than underneath. Following the Draxxin injection the nasalgen with the plastic needle will be applied. This vaccine is applied as a mist in the nostrils of the calf. The required dose amount for nasalgen is 2ccs the best way to distribute this is to set your syringe to 1cc and apply one shot to each nostril. While still straddling the calf use one hand to grab the head of the calf. This is best done by gabbing under its mouth on the jaw. Then insert the plastic needle into the nostril of the calf and squeeze the trigger once. Be careful not to be too aggressive and break the needle in the calf’s nostril this will lead to many problems mostly respiratory with the calf if it is not removed. It is difficult to remove because the calf could inhale it if it broke. Repeat that step with the other nostril and that completes the vaccination process.

Step 3: Clean Up

Finally, clean your syringes, this can be done many ways from rinsing with hot water to disassembling it completely and washing all of it’s components. First remove your needles and dispose of them safely, an empty plastic bottle works fine. Next get some hot water running, let the water heat up. Draw some water into the syringe by pulling the rod on the back of it and squirt the water out of it by pushing that same rod forward. Repeat this step two or three times to make sure it is rinsed out well. If a compression plug syringe is being used loosen the plug to let it dry and prevent mold growth in the tube of the syringe. This can be done by turning the nob at the end of the rod that sticks out the back of the syringe. Once that is done hang the syringes up to dry, and that completes the process of vaccinating calves.