Evaluation of Alternate Year Vaccination Practices in a Cow-Calf Herd

Abstract

Yearly vaccination of cow herds for reproductive diseases is the norm in US cattle industry. There has been controversy throughout veterinary medicine about vaccination of animals. Theoretically, a single dose of modified live vaccine has been claimed to give life-long immunity. Because there have not been multiple year duration studies in cattle, the long-term efficacy of cow vaccinations has been difficult to assess. In this study we divided a 1000-cow herd into three groups: 1) vaccination every year, 2) vaccination every other year, and 3) vaccination every third year. The herd production records and serology of the herd were subsequently evaluated.