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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349304

Research Project: Alleviating Rate Limiting Factors that Compromise Beef Production Efficiency

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Title: Influence of vaccination with a combined chemically altered/inactivated BHV-1/BVD vaccine or a modified-live BHV-1/BVD vaccine on reproductive performance in beef cows and heifers

Author
item PERRY, GEORGE - South Dakota State University
item Geary, Thomas
item WALKER, JULIE - South Dakota State University
item RICH, JERICA - South Dakota State University
item NORTHROP, EMMALEE - South Dakota State University
item PERKINS, STEPHANIE - South Dakota State University
item MOGCK, CHRISTINA - South Dakota State University
item VAN EMON, MEGAN - Montana State University
item Zezeski, Abby
item DALY, RUSSELL - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: Bovine Practitioner Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2018
Publication Date: 6/20/2018
Citation: Perry, G.A., Geary, T.W., Walker, J.A., Rich, J.J., Northrop, E.J., Perkins, S.D., Mogck, C.L., Van Emon, M.L., Zezeski, A.L., Daly, R.F. 2018. Influence of vaccination with a combined chemically altered/inactivated BHV-1/BVD vaccine or a modified live BHV-1/BVD vaccine on reproductive performance in beef cows and heifers. Bovine Practitioner Journal. 52:53-58.

Interpretive Summary: A field trial was done in 10 herds of cattle to evaluate the effects of pre-breeding vaccination on pregnancy rate. Cows were treated with either a modified live (MLV) or a chemically altered/inactivated (CA/IV) BHV-1/BVD vaccine. Cows received either vaccine 27 to 89 days before breeding. All cows were bred by timed AI following synchronization of estrus. Conception rates to AI were greater in the CA/IV vaccine group compared to the MLV vaccine group (60% vs 52%). Interval from vaccination with either vaccine until AI also influenced conception rates. Vaccination at less than 37 before the start of the breeding season decreased AI conception rates and breeding season rates. This decrease in fertility for recently vaccinated cows occurred regardless of vaccine type (MLV or CA/IV). Producers should vaccinate cattle at least 37 days before the start of breeding for best results.

Technical Abstract: A field trial was conducted on 10 herds of well-vaccinated cows and heifers (n=1,567) to evaluate the reproductive effects of prebreeding vaccination with either a MLV or a chemically altered/inactivated (CA/IV) BHV-1/BVD vaccine. Animals received a single (cows) or two injections (heifers) of either vaccine with the final injection between 27 and 89 days before breeding, which consisted of timed AI following a 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR synchronization. Conception rates to AI were greater in the CA/IV vaccine group compared to the MLV vaccine group (P = 0.05; 60% vs 52%). Interval from vaccination with either vaccine until AI also influenced conception rates (P = 0.02), with animals vaccinated 27 to 29 days or 30 to 37 days prebreeding exhibiting decreased conception rates compared to animals vaccinated 46 to 89 days prebreeding (P < 0.03; 64%). There was no treatment by interval interaction (P = 0.79), effect of treatment (P = 0.18), or treatment by interval interaction (P = 0.17) on breeding season pregnancy rates. In summary, vaccination of well-vaccinated beef cows and heifers with a MLV vaccine pre-breeding (27 to 89 d) decreased AI conception rates compared to a CA/IV vaccine.