2016-084: A field comparison of intranasal versus injectible BRD vaccination on beef calf titres, ADG, morbidity and mortality
Researcher: Nathan Erickson
Funding: $15,000
Beef producers have several vaccination choices when ensuring the health of their animals. However, concerns about efficacy have been raised, which is further complicated by various protocols recommended for each type of vaccine. Given new information available on the Bovine Viral Disease, these researchers wanted to compare live modified, nasal injectable protocols to traditional injectable vaccines and their protocols.
Results
This study shows that vaccination with injectable/parental Bovine Viral Diarrhea vaccines in the face of high maternal antibodies does not result in a priming immune response and therefore, mucosal vaccination options should be pursued in the future. Mucosal vaccination of neonatal calves with BVD antigens will bypass the interference that maternal antibodies and will be more likely to prime calf immunity to BVD.
There was no notable difference in weight gain for cow-calf producers, but it was assumed that there would more likely to be a difference in weight for the feedlot.
At this time intranasal vaccines have a greater cost, though these costs might be worth it for a producer.