Lepto

Madden171

Hi
I have a Heifer five months incalf and was just a bit worried about her aborting as she was tested for bvd and Letpo last January and it came back that she had antibodies for Letpo, I put her incalf and she held first time but I'm afraid now she will abort as Letpo usually effect a bovine fetus in the last trimester of pregnancy should I vaccinate against it now or I'm I worried over nothing
Thanks

greysides

Antibodies means previous exposure, and in this case prior to going in-calf. So she has some immunity to lepto already. Bar she comes in contact with a challenge that overcomes her immunity she'll be fine.
Lepto vaccination is best done in the Spring prior to the breeding season starting and prior to going to grass.
Potential replacements should be done from the earliest age allowed by the vaccine. The bull needs to be done too.

Lepto is a zoonosis (humans can pick it up from the cattle), in the UK this fact alone is often enough to ensure a herd is vaccinated.

Rats are NOT involved in the spread of the lepto hardjo species of cattle.

Madden171

Thank you for your reply, was worried that she might throw the calf, she put on grass so I hope she'll be fine can it be passed on to the calf ??

Tomjim

so if you are buying in cows/heifers you should treat all for lepto?

how much is it?

49801

The pain about lepto vaccinating is first year you give it it's a two dose program 6(?) weeks apart. Just my opinion but for young breeding stock I'd give the first dose end of Oct and the 2nd in early Jan ready to start breeding in feb.

Can't remember price but it is expensive maybe €5/hd for first year?

Annual booster then needs to be given every year.

greysides

Madden171 wrote: »

...can it be passed on to the calf ??

No.

whelan1

for at least the last 10 years we had to do our cows every 6 months, i stretched it this year and got 11 months between injections - a cow aborted- otherwise i would have waited the 12 months

Madden171

So will I bother vaccinating her, or leave up to nature ??