Vaccinating your herd can be vital

Vaccination is key to keeping healthy herds.

We vaccinate to stimulate the immune system to protect animals from diseases.

In production animals, one of the most important vaccines that we use covers Clostridial diseases and Leptospirosis. Blackleg, Pulpy Kidney, Tetanus, Black Disease and Malignant Odema are some of the Clostridial diseases that vaccinating protects against.

They can be picked up from the soil and the first sign of having a problem is usually sudden deaths.

Leptospirosis is a terrible bacterial disease spread to our animals from rodents and water contaminated with urine. Infected animals may appear a bit 'off colour' while others can seem clinically normal.

What we don't see is that these animals are shedding leptospira in their urine.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease meaning that humans can catch this disease. It can become life threatening often requiring hospitalisation in severe cases.

Sheep, cattle, goats, llama and alpaca are all recommended to be vaccinated against leptospirosis and Clostridial diseases using a vaccine similar to Ultravac 7 in 1.

Any young animal can be vaccinated from the age of four weeks and will require a booster four-six weeks after the first vaccination. A yearly vaccination booster is required after that.

Any animal with an unknown vaccination status would require an initial vaccination followed by a booster vaccination four-six weeks after.

This can be picked up in individual doses from our clinic or we can come out to farm to do this for you. Pigs are recommended to be vaccinated every six months against leptospirosis.

We currently run a pig run every February and August. Contact us if you would like to get your pigs on the list.

Just a quick reminder facial eczema and flystrike seasons are nearly here again. Pop in to the clinic to have a chat to the friendly Vet Techs at Levin and Horowhenua Vets to make a plan for the summer.

Ashleigh Taylor BVT is a large animal veterinary technologist at the Levin and Horowhenua Veterinary Centre.