Vaccinating bison remains a management option for producers who must rely on vaccines developed for beef cattle.
Dr. Murray Woodbury, research chair in specialized livestock health and production at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, said vaccines aren’t absolutely necessary but there might be reasons to administer them.
For example, bison entering a feedlot could benefit from being vaccinated for some types of pneumonia.
“You administer an appropriate vaccine to a healthy, unstressed bison and you will get a response that will protect the bison from the target disease under normal conditions,” he told those producers at the Canadian Bison Association convention Nov. 18.
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However, he asked them to note the qualifiers in his statement.
Bison are rarely unstressed when being handled and conditions aren’t always normal.
He reminded producers that vaccination is not the same as immunization. As well, just because a vaccine was administered doesn’t mean a bison won’t get a disease.
Immunization is a result of a process initiated in the body by the vaccine.
He said a pathogen in sufficient numbers can overwhelm even the most competent immune system.
“You have to have faith in your vaccine,” he said.
Producers who choose to vaccinate should be sure to follow the instructions regarding dosage and route.
“Don’t just give it IB — intra-bison,” he said.
Woodbury said producers should definitely not vaccinate against diseases that bison don’t get, such as bovine respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza-3.
Pinkeye vaccines tend not to work well, while foot rot vaccines don’t last long in bison.
On the other hand, anthrax vaccine can be a valuable tool, particularly in areas prone to the soil-borne disease.
Seven- and eight-way vaccines seem to work well against blackleg in bison, and Woodbury said they are probably worth the money.
“Vaccination is a waste of money. Immunization is money well spent,” he said.
