College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources
Department of Extension
Windham County Extension Center
Suggestions on Beef Cattle Health
Expanding the Herd
If operating a closed herd, only bring on new cattle if you are certain they are disease free. When
adding calves to your herd from the outside that have not been vaccinated, follow the program
recommended by your veterinarian. Upon adding older cattle to your herd, be certain to confirm the
measures of disease prevention in the cattle’s herd of origin. Try to set up a system to isolate the
additions for two weeks with careful observations. Really see when you look. Recognize changes in
well-being and behavior.
Signs of Illness
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Noticing illness early will allow you to start treatment immediately:
Slowed mobility - stands up and moves slowly
Posture - Stance may indicate lameness or pain
Anxiety and restlessness
Coughing
Runny nose
Body condition - too thin or too fat
Coat - Thinning, dull, rough
Separated from the herd
Not chewing its cud - signals pain, digestive problem, fever
Lack of interest in its surroundings
Manure - amount, consistency, frequency
Urination - amount, frequency
Vaccines & Medications
Don’t use outdated medications or vaccines. Follow the directions on the label. Vaccines may be live,
modified live or killed. Read the label; make sure they are safe on pregnant cows or calves that are
nursing. Use separate needles for injecting each animal. Have separate syringes for each medication or
vaccine. Rinse balling gun with antiseptic solution between animals. Properly restrain cattle. Follow
directions regarding intranasal, intramuscular and subcutaneous. When indicated, use subcutaneous
rather than intramuscular. Loose skin in the neck (side) or behind the shoulders is a good choice for
subcutaneous injections. Rear of the thigh is appropriate for intramuscular injection. Briskly massage
injection site for a few seconds to improve distribution. Do not send cattle to slaughter earlier than
what is indicated on the label. Observe animal carefully after distribution to be certain there is no
anaphylactic shock (although rare) after vaccination. Be prepared to treat with epinephrine if reaction
occurs.
Watering System
Check to see if water is dirty or contaminated. Animals may go off feed if water is dirty or
contaminated. Design should be that no animal should need to travel over 500 feet to reach water
source. This will encourage them to water individually and spread out grazing throughout pasture.
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FAX 860.774.9480
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Barn Management
Prevent disease outbreaks by disinfecting contaminated barns, stalls, calf hutches, or other buildings
where sick animals have been. Areas where cattle are fed, or where cows give birth, must be clean and
uncontaminated with feces. Many diseases harmful to calves are spread via contaminated manure.
Pasture Management
Keep your cattle out of pastures that contain forage risky to livestock. Sorghum and Johnsongrass, for
example, may contain high levels of hydrocyanic acid under certain conditions and may be very toxic to
livestock. In early spring, fast-growing cereal grains or certain grasses may cause a metabolic disorder
called grass tetany, a magnesium deficiency that particularly affects lactating cows. Avoid the problem
by using these pastures for weanlings or dry cows during risky times of year, or make sure every animal
gets an adequate magnesium supplement. Some legumes, especially young, lush alfalfa, can cause
bloat. If those pastures must be grazed, mow that area a few hours ahead of turning your cows in, so
the plants are starting to wilt and dry before being eaten. Plants poisonous to livestock can be found on
the following Cornell University website: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/
Stress Management
Stress contributes to higher incidence or severity of disease. Stressed cattle do not eat well, so stress
interferes with proper weight gain, reproduction, and disease resistance. If susceptible animals are
highly stressed at the same time they are exposed to disease, they generally become rapidly and
severely sick. Inadequate nutrition can physically stress animals, as can bad weather. Provide shelters
to minimize heat or cold stress. In a hot climate, use pastures with shade or create shade roofs tall
enough to allow good air movement above the cattle. Psychological stress occurs when cattle are
overcrowded, weaned, disrupted in normal social interactions, or suffer fear and anxiety during
improper handling. Lungs are especially vulnerable, since some pathogens are always present in the
respiratory tract, waiting for an opportunity to invade the tissues. A common stress is human handling moving, sorting, vaccinating, branding, dehorning, tagging, castrating, weaning, transporting, etc. Don't
dehorn, castrate, and brand calves at the same time you wean them. It's best to perform some of these
procedures when they are small, when it's a lot easier on them.
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BROOKLYN, CT 06234
PHONE 860.774.9600
FAX 860.774.9480
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Disease Prevention Program Suggestions
Newborn Calves
1. Dip naval in -7% tincture of iodine as soon as possible following birth.
2. Colostrum- within first 6 hours, from nursing dam or frozen if dam is inadequate.
3. IPR and PI3 Intranasal vaccine.
4. Oral vaccine for rotavirus and corona virus scours.*
5. Oral vaccine for E Coli with K99 antibodies. *
6. Vitamin A & D and selenium intramuscularly. May or may not be given depending on the ration of
the dam in late gestation or after calving.
7. Calves should be creep fed 12-14% crude protein grain mix at 1-1.5 pounds per 100lb. animal.
8. Calves should be de-wormed, treated for ringworm, warts and grubs.
* If the dam was vaccinated for rotavirus, corona virus and E. Coli, and the calf receives colostrum
from her, then the calf is protected and further vaccinations to calf are unnecessary.
Four to Eight Months
1. Vaccinate to prevent pinkeye at pasture time.
2. Insecticide ear tags or dust bags for fly control in pasture.
3. Brucella vaccinates for heifers only. (Must be done by CT Vet only)
4. Other vaccinations near weaning. The first series of vaccinations should be started four to six
weeks prior to weaning, so that the entire health program is complete two weeks before
weaning:
a. IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV and 9 Way LEPTO. Booster 2-4 weeks later.
b. H. SOMNUS with booster 2-4 weeks later.
c. 7 Clostridia with booster 4-6 weeks later.
d. IBR & PI3 Intranasal vaccine at weaning time and before trucking.
5. After weaning adjustment use de-wormer for internal and some external parasite control.
6. Rabies vaccination if disease is at epizootic level in wildlife.
Yearlings
1. Worm before pasture if needed.
2. Magnet administration to prevent hardware in all cattle going into breeding herds.
3. Vitamin A&D intramuscularly in early winter if ration is low.
4. Before breeding and pasture season:
5 way Leptospirosis booster, 3 way vibrio, and Trichomoniasis vaccination.
Cows
1. May vaccinate in late pregnancy to insure E.Coli with K99 and ROTA and Corona viruses are in
colostrum.
2. 5 way LEPTO booster and 3 way Vibrio and Trichomoniasis vaccine before pasture and breeding
time.
3. Rabies booster if threat exists.
4. Vitamin A&D injection and selenium injection or bolus 3-12 weeks before calving. (Depends on
wintering ration)
5. Annual booster for IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV and H.SOMNUS.
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PHONE 860.774.9600
FAX 860.774.9480
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6. De-worm before winter quarters for internal parasites and some externals. If fecal samples
indicate need, worm before pasture.
7. Pinkeye vaccination before pasture in spring.
8. Insecticide tags and/or dust bags for fly control in spring, summer, and fall.
9. Grass Tetany prevention- free choice of mix of 50/50 loose salt and magnesium oxide while on
pasture for spring and summer. (Not needed in many locations.)
10. Brucellosis and T.B. testing in compliant state and federal programs.
Bulls
1. Same for cows, except no vaccinations to stimulate antibodies in colostrums.
Notes on Disease Prevention Program
1. Individual cattle vary in how long and at what levels immune responses will last. Stress on
individuals or the herd can also reduce immune responses.
2. If the disease is a particular problem in the area, boosters may be needed more often than once
a year.
3. Tailor prevention according to your cattle and program.
4. Improvements are being made in many vaccines. Stay in tune to veterinarian’s
recommendations.
5. Keep records with prevention, treatment and procedures with dates.
6. Animals with a parasite are likely to have noticeable weight changes.
7. Cattle minimum temperature should be 100 degrees and maximum 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepared by Amber Guillemette, Program Aide, UCONN Extension (9/14)
139 WOLF DEN ROAD
BROOKLYN, CT 06234
PHONE 860.774.9600
FAX 860.774.9480
www.extension.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer