Why Cattle Are Vaccinated

Vaccination is a preventive animal-health tool. Ranchers may vaccinate
cattle to help protect individual animals and herds from diseases that can
cause illness, reproductive loss or death.

Prevention rather than treatment

Vaccines prepare the animal’s immune system to respond to particular disease
threats. Preventing disease can reduce suffering and may reduce the need for
later treatment.

Vaccination programs vary

A cow-calf ranch, backgrounding operation, feedlot and closed farm-direct
herd may face different disease risks. Geography, herd history, animal
movement and veterinary advice can all influence a vaccination program.

Calves may receive several vaccines

Depending on the operation, calves may be vaccinated against combinations
of respiratory, reproductive or other infectious diseases. Booster doses
may also be part of the herd-health plan.

Vaccination and antibiotics are different

A vaccine is intended to help prevent disease by stimulating an immune
response. Antibiotics are medicines used against susceptible bacterial
infections. The two should not be treated as interchangeable terms.