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Vaccinating against Clostridia and Pasteurella

Solution name: Vaccinating against Clostridia and Pasteurella

Aim: To present the benefits of vaccination against Clostridia and Pasteurella

Description:

    • Clostridia and Pasteurella are two families of bacteria that can cause major problems to sheep flocks
    • Pulpy kidney, black disease, braxy, lamb dysentery, struck, blackleg, tetanus, bacterial red water, haemorrhagic enteritis, enterotoxaemia, Clostridial metritis, malignant oedema, and Pasteurella pneumonia are diseases that can be vaccinated against
    • Most of these diseases do not cause detectable illness/symptoms other than death and outbreaks can occur

      How to implement:

      • By vaccinating ewes annually before lambing, their antibody levels remain sufficiently high to allow protective cover to be transferred to their lambs
      • For lambs to benefit from their dam’s vaccination, they must receive adequate quantities of good quality colostrum within the first 2 hours after birth to receive passive immunity
      • Animals should not be vaccinated if sick or immunodeficient
      • Vaccine type (Clostridial +/- Pasteurella) depends on individual farm issues
      • Vaccine should be stored as directed and shelf life before and after opening observed
      • Vaccination procedure can vary but it is typically administered by subcutaneous injection in the lateral side of the upper neck
      • The bottle should be well shaken before any vaccine is withdrawn
      • Syringes and needles should be sterile before use and the injection should be made through an area of clean, dry skin taking precautions against contamination

      A typical schedule for both Clostridial and Pasteurella vaccination in sheep is presented in the table below.

        Infographic PDF- Click Here

        Topic: Health

        Production:  Dairy / Meat

        Animal Category: Adult / Lamb / Replacement

        Issue:Flock health – vaccines

        Level of Solution: Knowledge, Practical

        Country: Ireland

         

         

         

         

         

        Expected benefits

        Expected benefits:

        • Risk of death from Clostridial and Pasteurella diseases are drastically reduced

        Prerequisites and/or limits (knowledge, training, capabilities, cost, management, facilities, equipment, etc.)

        • Availability and proper storage facilities for vaccines

        Cost Benefit analysis

        The use of Clostridial and Pasteurella vaccinations will increase medicine costs but this is offset by the decrease in lamb and ewe mortality, which increases animal output and flock profitability.

        Sustainability analysis

         Reducing Clostridial and Pasteurella diseases reduces lamb and ewe mortality, thus increasing the number of animals drafted for slaughter and ewe productivity i.e. lambs reared per ewe joined.

        A reduction in Clostridial and Pasteurella diseases improves animal welfare and creates a better work environment, all of which has a positive effect on farmer image.

        Information Source / Usefull links

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