Calf vaccination gives vital boost as maternal immunity declines

Calves are born with zero immunity – maternal immunity is acquired through the colostrum, providing a level of disease protection. But as maternal immunity begins to decline, calves become vulnerable to disease.

Nursing calf vaccination begins to generate active immunity as the passive maternal immunity decreases, as shown in the chart below. “Immunity from vaccination usually doesn’t kick in until 7 to 14 days after the vaccination,” says Pete Knight, a veterinarian with Pfizer Canada Inc. “The idea is to get the level of resistance up before the calves really need it.”

“Weaning tends to be the most stressful part of a calf’s life,” says Knight. “The stress of weaning and/or shipping causes a drop in resistance to disease. During this time, calves are usually confined and/or commingled resulting in increased exposure to disease-causing bacteria and viruses.”

The nursing calf vaccination helps reduce the incidence of summer/pasture pneumonia as well as prime the calf’s immune system for follow-up fall vaccination. It is strongly recommended that calves receive a second vaccine to enhance the level of active immunity initiated by the nursing calf vaccination.