Herd health extends beyond a vaccination strategy. Merck Technical Services Veterinarian Deana Hardee likes to have protocols in place. “One of the general rules of thumb is we like to do a branding age or that three-to-four-month age vaccine, specifically for clostridial diseases and BRD,” said Hardee. “Simply because calves are born very naive, and they rely on mom’s colostrum or the internal antibodies. It’s a great time to intervene and vaccinate. We’re setting them up for success in the next phases of production.” Hardee believes it is also important to have a relationship with a local veterinarian who understands your operation. Listen to the full interview.
