PROGRAMME FOR SHEEP
Animals that have not been immunized before
Initial vaccination must be done according to management and breeding programs on a specific farm. The following schedule can be changed to fit specific farm needs.
9 weeks beforebreeding season
Blue Tongue (ewes)
-
1 ml subcutaneously (ABC 3 weeks apart)
Just after the breeding season
Blue Tongue (rams)
-
1 ml subcutaneously (ABC 3 weeks apart)
At 6 months
Blue Tongue
-
1 ml subcutaneously (ABC 3 weeks apart)
4 - 6 weeks before breeding season
Rift Valley fever (live vaccine) OR Clone 13
-
1 ml subcutaneously
4 - 6 weeks before breeding season
Chlamysure (Chlamydia)
-
1 ml subcutaneously
4 - 6 weeks before breeding season
-
Gasgangrene (rams)
2 ml subcutaneously
6 - 10 weeks before the lambing season
-
Blue udder (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
6 - 10 weeks before the lambing season
-
Tetanus (1st inject)
1 ml subcutaneously
6 - 10 weeks before the lambing season
-
Lamb dysentery (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
From 2 weeks of age
Heartwater blood (0-21 days of age)
-
3 ml subcutaneously
From 2 weeks of age
-
Pasteurella (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
From 2 weeks of age
-
A. pyogenes
2 ml subcutaneously (lambs)
From 2 weeks of age
-
C. ovis
2 ml subcutaneously
At 4 - 6 weeks of age
-
Pasteurella (2nd inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
Brucella Rev. 1 (rams)
-
2 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
Enterotoxaemia (1st inject)
-
1 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
-
Botulism (1st inject)
1 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
-
Gasgangrene (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
-
Pasteurella (3rd inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
Before weaning (4 - 5 months of age)
-
Redgut (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
4 - 5 months of age
-
Redgut (2nd inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
Enterotoxaemia (2nd Inject)
-
1 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
Rift Valley fever (live vaccine) OR Clone 13
-
1 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
-
Botulism (2nd inject)
1 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
-
Anthrax
1 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
-
Gasgangrene (2nd nject)
2 ml subcutaneously
At 6 months
-
Swelled head (rams)
2 ml subcutaneously
Sustained immunization programme for adult sheep
Yearly or six monthly booster injections can be given in an annual breeding program. The following table is a practical example and could be changed to fit local circumstances.
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
Bluetongue
-
1 ml subcutaneously (3 vaccines 3 weeks apart)
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
Enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney)
-
1 ml subcutaneously
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
-
C. ovis
2 ml subcutaneously
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
-
C. pyogenes
5 ml subcutaneously
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
-
Rift Valley Fever/Clone 13
1 ml subcutaneously
Late winter - Early Spring (Aug - Sept)
-
Rift Valley (inacti)
2 ml subcutaneously
Autumn (April - May)
Anthrax
-
1 ml subcutaneously
Autumn (April - May)
-
Botulism
1 ml subcutaneously
Autumn (April - May)
-
pyogenes
5 ml subcutaneously
Autumn (April - May)
-
Pasteurella
2 ml subcutaneously
4 - 6 weeks before breeding season
Chlamysure (Chlamydia)
-
1 ml subcutaneously
± 4 weeks before shearing
-
Escherichia coli
2 ml subcutaneously
± 4 weeks before shearing
Anthrax
-
1 ml subcutaneously
± 4 weeks before shearing
-
Quarter-evil
1 ml subcutaneously
± 4 weeks before shearing
-
C. ovis
2 ml subcutaneously
IMMUNISATION FOR CATTLE
Animals that have not been immunized before
Initial vaccination can best be done according the management systems and breeding program of a specific farm. The following schedule can be changed to fit the specific farming conditions.
6 - 8 weeks before the breeding season
Rift Valley fever (inactivated)
-
2 ml subcutaneously
6 - 8 weeks before the breeding season
RVF (live vaccine) OR Clone 13
-
1 ml subcutaneously
6 - 8 weeks before the breeding season
Vibriosis (1st inject.)
-
2 ml subcutaneously (heifers)
6 - 8 weeks before the breeding season
Vibriosis (1st inject.)
-
5 ml subcutaneously (bulls)
3 - 4 weeks before the breeding season
-
Vibriosis (2nd inject)
2 ml subcutaneously (heifers)
3 - 4 weeks before the breeding season
-
Vibriosis (2nd inject)
5 ml subcutaneously (bulls)
8 weeks before calving (heifer)
-
Escherichia coli (1st inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
2 - 4 weeks before calving
-
Escherichia coli (2nd inject)
2 ml subcutaneously
7 - 14 days of age
Paratyphoid (1st inj) (live or inactivated vaccine)
-
5 ml subcutaneously (live or inact)
7 - 14 days of age
Paratyphoid (1st inj) (live or inactivated vaccine)
-
10 ml subcutaneously (inact for cows)
7 - 14 days of age
Heartwater blood, endemic areas 0-21 days age
-
3 ml intraveneously
7 - 14 days of age
-
Pasteurella (1st inject)
5 ml subcutaneously
7 - 14 days of age
-
C. pyogenes (1st inject)
5 ml subcutaneously (< 6 months)
7 - 14 days of age
-
C. pyogenes (1st inject)
10 ml subcutaneously (> 6 months)
3 - 8 weeks of age
Paratyphoid, 2nd inj - Inactivated vacc @ 3 wks
-
5 ml subcutaneously (live or inact)
3 - 8 weeks of age
Paratyphoid, 2nd inj - Inactivated vacc @ 3 wks
-
10 ml subcutaneously (inact for cows)
3 - 8 weeks of age
-
Pasteurella (2nd inoc.)
5 ml subcutaneously
3 - 8 weeks of age
-
C. pyogenes (2nd + 3rd inject)
5 ml subcutaneously ( < 6 months )
3 - 8 weeks of age
-
C. pyogenes (2nd + 3rd inject)
10 ml subcutaneously ( > 6 months )
4 months of age
Contagious abortion S19 (heifers 4-8 mos)
-
2 ml subcutaneously
4 months of age
Gall sickness (3-9 months) endemic areas
-
1 ml subcutaneously
5 - 6 months of age or at weaning
Anthrax
-
1 ml subcutaneously
5 - 6 months of age or at weaning
-
Redwater (3-9 months) (endemic areas)
1 ml subcutaneously
* Gall sickness + Redwater vaccine can be administered together.
Sustained immunization programme for adult cattle
Yearly or six monthly booster injections can be given. The following table is a practical example that can be changed to fit the local farming conditions.
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
Three-day stiff sickness
-
2 ml
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
Lumpy skin disease
-
2 ml subcutaneously
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
Rift Valley fever: Inactivated (Clone 13 Live)
-
2 ml subcutaneously, 1 ml, 1 ml
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
-
C. pyogenes
10 ml subcutaneously( < 6 months )
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
-
C. pyogenes
5 ml subcutaneously( > 6 months )
Late winter, Early spring (Aug - Sept)
-
Pasteurella
5 ml subcutaneously
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
Blackquarter/Botulism OR Gasgangrene
-
5 ml subcutaneously
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
Anthrax
-
2 ml subcutaneously
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
Botulism - (if combinations were not used)
-
2 ml subcutaneously
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
-
C. pyogenes
10 ml subcutaneously ( > 6 months )
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
-
Pasteurella
5 ml subcutaneously
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
-
Vibriosis
2 ml subcutaneously (heifers)
Autumn or early winter (April - June)
-
Vibriosis
5 ml subcutaneously (bulls)
2 - 4 weeks before calving
-
Escherichia coli
2 ml subcutaneously
HORSES
Animals that have not been immunized before
Foals from susceptible mares at 2 weeks of age
-
Equine influenza-
2 ml intramuscularly
Foals from susceptible mares at 1 month of age
-
African horsesickness
2 ml subcutaneously
Foals from immune mares at 3 months of age
-
Equine influenza
2 ml intramuscularly
Foals from immune mares at 3 months of age
-
Tetanus
1 ml intramuscularly
Foals from immune mares: 5-6 mos, high risk
-
African horsesickness
2 ml intramuscularly, repeat in Spring
8 months of age
-
Equine influenza
2 ml intramuscularly
Sustained immunization programme for adult horses
At 6 monthly at any time of the year
-
Equine influenza-
2 ml intramuscularly
Vaccinate pregnant mares 6 wks pre-foaling
-
African horsesickness
2 ml subcutaneously: Aug, Sep Anually
12 months of age and then annually
-
Tetanus
1 ml intramuscularly
IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES
The immunization schedules, which follow, are merely a suggested outline that may be adapted to your farming situation.
Various factors are responsible for the spreading of disease. Certain diseases only occur in specific
geographic or climatic areas or under particular management practices with specific groups of animals.
There is no necessity to vaccinate against diseases which do not occur in the area. When deciding to
vaccinate for a disease numerous factors should be taken into account.
1. What is the risk of infection to the herd should they not be vaccinated?
2. What are the potential economic losses associated with the disease in unvaccinated animals?
3. What risk factors are present in the herd or will play a role in the future? It is recommended that
animals be vaccinated before high risk procedures (eg quarter-evil before shearing) or high risk
conditions (eg botulism before feeding chicken manure).
4. Can the disease be controlled without vaccinating?
5. What information is available with regard to vaccine against the disease?
• Type of vaccine available eg live or dead. Is there any potential danger when using the vaccine (eg. Rift Valley fever which could cause abortion in pregnant animals)?
• Efficacy of the vaccine and successful use in the past.
• Can the vaccine combat clinical disease as well as infection?
• Does the presence of colostrum immunity have an effect on the vaccine?
• What is the duration of immunity provided by the vaccine?
• What is the result of a crude cost- benefit analysis based on the expected economic losses.
associated with morbidity and mortality in the vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups?
6. Type of farming and management practices applied.
7. Vaccination will have to be modified to fit in with the management practices such as lambing season, shearing season, weaning season, etc.
It is therefore clear that a unique vaccination schedule must be determined for each farm or herd. The
local practising veterinarian is the person most suited to consult as he has an in-depth knowledge and
experience of local conditions.