Vaccination guidelines for small stock

Dr Rainer Hassel, Veterinarian - The following vaccination programmes should be regarded as general guidelines and should be adapted where necessary to suit specific farming enterprises and disease situations. They generally represent comprehensive programmes that will protect small stock against a wide range of infectious diseases like Pulpy Kidney, Pasteurellosis, Black Quarter, Uterine Gas Gangrene and Tetanus, to name but a few. Insect borne infectious diseases like Rift Valley Fever, Wesselsbron Disease and Blue Tongue which only occur from time to time and which are associated with specific weather conditions like above average or excessive rainfall. This could result in an explosive multiplication of insect vector populations that present practical problems as far as their inclusion in vaccination programmes is concerned, due to the fact that at the time when vaccinations should be given, which is usually in spring, we do not know what the situation is going to look like in summer, late summer or autumn.The most important guideline for any vaccination is that only healthy animals, in good bodily condition, free from severe internal and external parasite infestation and free from other diseases should be vaccinated! It is also very important to remember that whenever follow-up or booster vaccinations are prescribed by the manufacturer, they should be administered. Failing to administer a booster vaccination will result in insufficient immunity in the vaccinated animals that will not protect them in case of an infection.Multivalent vaccineCombination or multivalent vaccine are very useful to protect animals against a wide spectrum of infectious diseases caused by Clostridial bacteria and Pasteurella, sometimes up to seven or ten such diseases.These vaccines are quite expensive and some or most of the diseases may not occur or have never occurred on a specific farm or in an area and are therefore not necessary. A cheaper option in these cases is to vaccinate only against the most common disease like Pulpy Kidney and Pasteurellosis, using monovalent or single-antigen vaccines. Please consult your veterinarian to assist you with drafting vaccination programmes using monovalent vaccines, to protect small stock against the most important infectious diseases.Sheep (lambs)Essential: 1) At 3 - 4 months of age: A multivalent combination vaccine (for example One Shot Ultra 7, Multivax P, Multiclos, Coglavax or Covexin 10) plus Brucella melitensis for rams used for breeding (for example Brucella Rev 1 or Coglarev)2) 3 – 4 weeks later: Booster vaccination. Repeat the first combination vaccine where applicable or prescribed. Do not repeat Brucella vaccination.Sheep (adults)Essential: 1) A multivalent combination vaccine (for example One Shot Ultra 7, Multivax P, Multiclos, Coglavax or Covexin 10) should be administered annually. Pregnant ewes should be vaccinated about 4 weeks before lambing to ensure good passive immunity in the lambs via the colostrum.2) For Enzootic Abortion all ewes used for breeding should be vaccinated annually 3 -4 weeks before the breeding season. Use Chlamysure, Ovilis Enzovax or Cevac Chlamydia. Optional: Optional extra vaccinations for sheep include Orf (one day old), Rift Valley Fever, Wesselsbron Disease, Blue Tongue, Rabies, Botulism, Anthrax and Tetanus, depending on prevailing climatic conditions and the occurrence of diseases. Vaccinations against insect borne infectious diseases are usually administered during September or October. Orf vaccination should only be applied in flocks where the disease occurs. Goats (lambs)Essential: 1) At 3 - 4 months of age: A multivalent combination vaccine (same as for sheep), plus Brucella Rev 1 or Coglarev, followed by a booster vaccination 3 – 4 weeks later. Goats (adults)Essential: 1) Annually a multivalent combination vaccine (same as for sheep). Pregnant ewes should be vaccinated about 4 weeks before lambing to ensure good passive immunity in the lambs via the colostrum.2) Vaccinate against Enzootic Abortion annually before the breeding season.Optional:Additional vaccinations are similar to sheep. Once again, Orf vaccination must only be considered in herds where the disease occurs.It is important to note that many vaccines are not registered for use in goats. Sheep vaccines can however be used safely in goats, but the owner carries the risk in these cases. Please consult your veterinarian in this regard.Since goats are very susceptible to adverse reactions following the administration of vaccines due to certain infections, it is absolutely mandatory that strict aseptic vaccination techniques are applied, using a separate sterile hypodermic needle for each animal and disinfecting the skin at the injection site with alcohol. Failure to adhere to this, can result in large-scale fatal infectious diseases like Black Quarter or Anthrax. * Article contributed by Agra ProVision.

Vaccination guidelines for small stock

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Vaccination guidelines for small stock

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