Vaccinations for Beef Cattle

How do vaccines work?

  • Vaccines stimulate the animal’s immune system to produce antibodies to infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.
  • Vaccines do not eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious agents, but they enhance an animal's capacity to defend against infections and reduce the severity of the disease.
  • Vaccines should be distinguished from other therapeutic drugs such as antimicrobials, as they are not used to treat diseases that are already occurring.
  • Antimicrobials and most other therapeutic drugs are used to treat or control a disease condition.

>Vaccinations for Beef Cattle: Best Practices and Considerations (UC ANR resource)

This information is also available in a UC ANR webinar on Neonatal Calf Health: 

Proper handling and administration of vaccines play a fundamental role in any antibiotic stewardship program. When handled and administered properly, vaccines can reduce the use of antibiotics by preventing or reducing the occurrence of diseases that may require treatment with antimicrobials. Vaccines are a component of Best Management Practices (BMP) on any livestock or backyard production unit. In order for vaccines to work, it is important to consider that:

  1. Proper handling and administration of vaccines is fundamental.
  2. Vaccination failure is mostly related to vaccine mishandling and improper usage.
  3. Vaccines work together with other BMP to ensure healthy and productive animals.

Additional Resources:

Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculators for the benefits of using

• Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) vaccines.

• Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) vaccines.

Vaccine handling guidelines from CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship - English version.

Buenas prácticas de manejo / Pautas de Manejo de Vacunas - CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship - en Español.

Article on proper administration of drugs and vaccines to cattle “Alabama Beef Quality Assurance: Administering Cattle Health Products Properly” **

Webinar on how to use nasal vaccines effectively from the Beef Cattle Research Council:

Website answering many questions about on beef vaccination from the Beef Cattle Research Council.

List of Cattle Vaccines and included bacteria and viruses “Beef Cattle Biological Chart.” from the Beef Cattle Research Council.

* from CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship

** from the Alabama A&M and Auburn University Extension service

*** from the Beef Cattle Research Council