Blackleg, a febrile and highly fatal disease affecting cattle and sheep, is typically characterized by crackle-like swellings in heavy muscles. Early symptoms can be marked by severe lameness and fever which then develops into swelling on the hip, shoulder, chest and other areas of the body. Death caused by Blackleg occurs within 12- 48 hours, making it imperative to use preventative measures to ensure cattle’s health.
The clostridial bacteria that makes up Blackleg has been around and adapted for millions of years, making it a difficult condition to handle.There are also a large variety of different clostridial bacteria, which make it imperative to find products that provide protection against as many strains as possible.Blackleg is a clostridial strain caused by Clostridium Chauvoei. It may also be caused by C. septicum, C. novyi or C. sordelli.
Bacteria found in the soil typically makes its way into cattle's system through route of ingestion. Many of these organisms in the spleen, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria thrive in anaerobic environments created by bruising, wounds, stresses and/or trauma cattle face. Here, bacteria begin to destroy normal muscle tissue which assists in managing their environment as anaerobic.
Prevention of Blackleg through vaccines is vital, however, treatment also provides its own set of challenges. After administering any general vaccines, cattle typically drop weight at weaning, consume less feed and showed lower pounds per feed consumption. These negative results are potent, taking money straight out of producers’ pockets. That is why it is exceedingly important to be aware of the benefits of different administration methods of clostridial vaccines.
One critical difference lies in the dose size of vaccine administered, whether 2 mL doses versus 5 mL. Administering 2 mL has proved to hinder the negative effects cattle face after vaccination. The reason being is that higher dosage equals more stress on the animal. This increased level of stress then leads to inflammation and consequently aids in depleting the body of energy, seeing that the immune system is forced to tackle inflammation. Vaccine related stress also leads to elevated acute phase proteins, decrease in feed intake and decrease in average daily gains.
5 herds across three states showed a weaning weight advantage over 5 ml 7-way vaccine was increased by 10 pounds. Steer and heifer calves on a Wyoming ranch that were vaccinated with 2 mL on average, weighed 14 pounds heavier at weaning. Another important aspect of this study focused around the beef quality comparison between products. Calves that were vaccinated with a 2mL dose of Vision 7 from Merck Animal Health showed fewer injection site reactions when compared to other competitor products, as well as smaller surface area and depth blemishes.
The Merck Animal Health VISION vaccine line is designed to reduce stress and minimize negative performance that livestock face due to vaccination, with one of its key factors being 2 mL doses. This focus on minimizing stress-levels in cattle has led to less swelling and inflammation, better feed conversion and weaning weights, better cost of gains and ultimately, more money in the producer’s pocket at the end of the day.
Merck Animal Health provides a line of vaccines called VISION which provides a variety of clostridial vaccines that not only protect against Blackleg, but also Malignant Edema, Black Disease and Red Water. This line has proven again and again to be a reliable vaccine, defending against Blackleg, Malignant edema, Black disease and Enterotoxemia.
Sometimes less is more. Utilize 2 mL clostridial vaccines such as the VISION line from Merck Animal Health to give your cattle the heads up when facing Blackleg.