preparing a livestock vaccine

Understanding the value of vaccines

Although vaccines have been used commercially for more than 70 years, the bulk of vaccines available on the market has not changed significantly. They are still mostly the products of either live or killed whole virus or bacterial culture. Research has yielded improvements to adjuvants (components that stimulate immunity), introduction of genetically engineered subunit and […] Read more

Adverse reactions to vaccines and drugs in cattle

Adverse reactions to vaccines and drugs in cattle

Allergic reactions 
can range from hives 
to itching or swelling 
to systemic shock 
leading to fluid 
in the lungs and 
sudden death

Occasionally cattle experience a reaction to vaccine or medication (injected, applied topically or given orally). An allergic reaction can be mild and local (swelling at the injection site after vaccination) or serious and fatal — if the animal goes into anaphylactic shock. Many of the things we administer are foreign to the animal’s body, and […] Read more


Taking stock of your vaccines

For some, calving season has already started. Others find themselves on final approach to one of the busiest times of year: calving, preparation for breeding season and spring processing of calves and cows before going to pasture. This is an important time to plan herd health programs for the year, make final adjustments to nutrition […] Read more

Petri dishes filled with bacteria.

Microbes have emerged as the real predators

It's in the stars... antimicrobial resistance tops list of concerns for this century

Friday, June 13 and a full moon. An astrological phenomenon made for witches and those rummaging for bad omens; an event not to be repeated until 2049 — a cycle of 35 years. It’s an interesting span of time that stirs the imagination of those, like myself, who spend most days wondering about the future. […] Read more