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Tackling calf pneumonia from day zero in county Wicklow

6 days ago
3 min read

*Dairy farmer Peter Ryan with his vet Mark Drought of Avondale Veterinary*

Peter Ryan runs a 230 dairy cow herd alongside his parents on their farm outside Wicklow town, operating a predominantly grass-based, spring-calving system. A few years ago, pneumonia was an issue with his calves, particularly between two to six weeks of age.

“They were getting temperatures, going off their milk, and even scouring. We also weren’t happy with how they were thriving,” Peter recalls.

After taking nasal swabs from the calves, Peter’s vet, Mark Drought from Avondale Veterinary, confirmed RSV as the main cause.

“RSV is a severe virus and spreads very quickly in calves, especially when they’re in a shed together. It can also lead to secondary infections, which is why we strongly recommend vaccinating calves as early as possible to ensure protection throughout the risk period,” says Mark.

For Peter, this is why Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live has become such a vital part of controlling pneumonia in his calves.

Early and fast protection

Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live, is a live intranasal vaccine for calves which can be administered from the day of birth. It reduces clinical signs and viral shedding from infection with RSV and PI3; the two most common viral causes of pneumonia.

Administered as a single 2ml dose up the nose, Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live provides immunity against RSV and PI3 within just seven days, delivering the fastest protection available on the market. The duration of protection is 12 weeks after vaccination.

“The vaccine is really convenient. You can vaccinate calves on the day they are born, it will be fully effective within seven days, and they’ll have protection for 12 weeks. The high risk period is usually in those first 12 weeks, and by then they’re leaving the shed, on this farm the risk is then lower,” explains Mark.

The difference vaccination has made

Since introducing Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live, Peter has seen noticeable improvements in his calves’ health.

“We’ve certainly seen a reduction in pneumonia. Calves are now on an upward trajectory from birth as opposed to getting that hit at two to six weeks of age. We’re using fewer antibiotics and their thrive is much better,” he said.

Vaccinating from day one fits seamlessly into Peter’s routine.

“When a calf is born, it’s given 3 litres of colostrum within 2 hours, ensuring the quality is over 25% on the Brix refractometer. The calf is then tagged, its navel is dipped with iodine, and we administer a 2ml dose of Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live up the nose.”

Peter concluded, “We find the vaccine very convenient as we are getting a lot of the jobs with the calves done from day one. We find it very easy to administer and knowing they have protection from day seven on, gives us real peace of mind. I’d highly recommend the product; we are absolutely delighted with it here.”

Vaccinating with Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live

Administration: Intranasally, into one nostril, from the day of birth
Dose: 2ml
Onset of protection: 7 days
Duration of immunity: 12 weeks
Pack sizes: 1, 5, and 20 doses
Preparation: Each pack contains two vials: a lyophilisate (pellet) and a solvent (liquid), which require mixing together before use. The reconstituted vaccine is a light orange to pink colour.
Shelf life after mixing: 6 hours
Storage: Keep refrigerated at 2-8 °C
For further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health