[Jacob-list] vaccination

[Brenda]

My vet said that the immune system doesn't form antibodies as a result to 
vaccines until several weeks after birth. Some individuals become immune 
sooner to others. I have heard vets disagree on the minimum age where most 
animals will develop immunities. Assuming I understood and recall correctly, 
my vet had no opposition to vaccinating earlier but didn't believe a 
vaccination was reliable protection unless given after 14 weeks. Considering 
concerns about vaccinating at all and about the number of vaccinations, 
there is room for disagreement on whether shots should be given earlier, 
later, both, ??? So it is reasonable to think that some of us will make 
different decisions based on procedures like docking or castration, 
frequency of injuries, how we feel about other risks, etc. But I think this 
is a good example of how working with a vet can give us information and 
insights on which to base our own decisions. Personally, I would not want 
unvaccinated sheep on my place after their first few weeks of life because I 
don't want to risk horrid illnesses or suffering. But the 6 or 8 or 12 or 14 
week timeline is much less clear to me. I suspect there is indeed some risk 
of tumors, etc at vaccine sites, so continue to weigh early vaccines against 
those risks. For those who do not dock or castrate, there is probably less 
risk holding off on vaccinating until 12 or 14 weeks. Risk of disease in 
baby lambs vs tumors in older breeding stock may lead others to make 
different decisions.

Brenda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARTHUR PARTRIDGE" <aztreaz at earthlink.net>
To: "jacob-list" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Docking tails and castrations



> --Brenda wrote:

>>t is probably a good idea to check with your vet re: when to vaccinate

>>ambs. I am all in favor of vaccinating, but some evidence suggests that

>>ambs do not develop immunities until much later than one month. If I

>>nderstand correctly, there is probably no harm in vaccinating earlier, but

>> dose should be given around 14 weeks and maybe one later still. It seems

>>he evidence is not entirely clear, so asking your area's smartest and most

>>cademically up-to-date vet might be a good idea.

> ==========

> I believe that the suggestion of vaccinating at one month of age (or a bit

> older, I'm too lazy to look it up) is because there is immunity from the

> mother ewe given to the newborn lamb, but that immunity diminishes after

> the lamb is one month or so of age.  So to continue protection, the shot 

> is

> given at one month and then a booster later.  I will check with my vet and

> see if the schedule has changed.

>

> Cathy

> Moscow, Idaho

>

>

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