Using nasal vaccines on newborn calves can be good protection, particularly if maternal antibodies might be low, says a bovine veterinarian.
Dr. Nathan Erickson, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine, said nasal vaccine use on neonatal calves — those newborn to three months old — can head off various respiratory diseases.
“Prior to nursing, the calves really do not have much in terms of immune response,” Erickson said during a webinar organized by the Beef Cattle Research Council.
“Not providing or having access to adequate colostrum can result in failure of passive transfer … of maternal immunity to a newborn calf.”
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Cows and heifers vaccinated on a regular basis likely have adequate antibodies in their colostrum. In that case, maternal antibodies can interfere or block response to systemic vaccines administered to newborn calves.
Nasal vaccines bypass that effect, act directly at the site of infection and provide rapid disease control, said Erickson. However, the effects don’t last as long as systemic vaccines.
Nasally applied or mucosal vaccines prime the immune tissue in surface layers, stimulating different types of antibodies than occur with systemic vaccines, and a more rapid response occurs.
“We do get some priming of systemic immunity as well … but not to the same level as an injectable vaccine would have.”
A mucosal vaccine can provide an estimated nine weeks of protection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and 105 days with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), Erickson said. That compares to systemic vaccinations, which can last up to one year if calves are adequately vaccinated and treated when they had adequate maternal antibodies.
Producers might also consider administering mucosal vaccines to calves when the maternal antibodies are waning, such as at pre-turnout. However, treatments should be tailored to specific herd management practices and to disease concerns, he added.
When administering mucosal vaccines, Erickson said a cannula should always be used. It will deliver the vaccine far enough into the calf’s nasal passage to elicit an immune response.
Cannulas should be replaced after treating each calf if they are neonatal and after every 10 calves if they are weaned. That minimizes risk of disease transfer.
It is important to elevate the head when treating young calves. Older ones may require use of a head gate to apply the vaccine properly.
Nasal treatments against respiratory illness are live or modified live vaccines, said Erickson, so proper mixing and handling are key to their use. They should be used within one hour of mixing and without exposure to extreme heat, cold or sunlight.
As well, mucosal vaccines would ideally be applied when the calves are not otherwise under stress.
