07/18/2025
🛡️ Essential Livestock Vaccines: Protecting Your Herd Starts Here! 🐄🐑🐐🐖
Vaccines are a vital part of preventive care for livestock. Here’s a quick guide to three core vaccines every herd owner should know about:
🔴 CD&T Vaccine (Cattle, Sheep, Goats)
Protects against:
✔️ Clostridium perfringens type C & D (overeating disease)
✔️ Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)
💉 Why it’s essential: These clostridial diseases can be fatal and progress rapidly. CD&T is especially important for young animals and during stressful events like weaning, castration, or lambing/kidding.
🕒 When to vaccinate:
• First dose at 6-8 weeks of age
• Booster 3-4 weeks later
• Annual booster or pre-parturition for dams to protect offspring
🟠 Triangle 7 Vaccine (Pigs)
Protects against:
✔️ 7 strains of Clostridium chauvoei, septicum, novyi, sordellii, and perfringens types C & D
• Commonly used to prevent Clostridial enteritis and sudden death in growing pigs.
💉 Why it’s essential: These bacteria are found in soil and intestinal tracts and can strike fast. Vaccinating helps protect during rapid growth phases or stress.
🕒 When to vaccinate:
• At 4-6 weeks of age
• Booster 3 weeks later
• As directed by your vet during risk periods
⚠️ Rabies Vaccine (All species)
While not always mandated, rabies vaccination is highly recommended, especially in areas where wildlife exposure is possible. Rabies is fatal, zoonotic, and entirely preventable.
💉 Consider vaccinating if:
• Animals are pets or handled frequently
• There is wildlife exposure risk (e.g., skunks, raccoons, bats)
• Local regulations or fair/show requirements demand it
✅ Talk to your veterinarian to build a vaccine schedule tailored to your herd’s needs. Prevention saves lives—and your bottom line.
