Vibrovax

VIBROVAX®

Protect herd fertility and profits

VIBRIOSIS IN CATTLE

Vibriosis has been called "the quiet profit taker". It is a disease that can significantly reduce herd fertility and reproductive performance without distinctive or obvious signs.

Vibriosis is a venereal disease of cattle caused by a bacterial infection with Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis. It is widespread throughout the Australian cattle herd and is a major cause of infertility and sporadic abortion. Vibriosis is unlike other more noticeable diseases like botulism where dead animals can be counted and valued. Vibriosis is the quiet profit taker - reducing calvings and increasing the number of unproductive cattle on the property with few, if any visible signs.

INFECTION

Vibriosis is spread at joining either from an infected bull to an uninfected cow or vice versa. Infected bulls can be carriers for many years and are therefore the main source of infection in a herd.

CLINICAL SIGNS

Low pregnancy rates and therefore low branding rates are usually the initial indication of a vibrio-infection in the herd. Sporadic abortions can occur in early pregnancy and an increased number of cattle returning to service may also be noticed. Infected herds often have conception rates reduced to levels below 50%. Vibrio infection results in reproductive damage and can cause permanent infertility in up to 11% of heifers. Infected bulls show no obvious signs but can act as long term carriers, infecting cows and heifers at service.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Treatment programs should be discussed with your veterinarian. The program for bulls may include an antibiotic treatment, while the vaccination of all breeding animals; bulls, cows and heifers, with Vibrovax®, will help reduce the incidence of infection and reproductive losses caused by Vibriosis.

Vaccination with Vibrovax® is the best way to prevent Vibriosis in cattle. Unless the entire herd is infected and suffering significant reproductive losses from Vibrio, it is usually unnecessary to vaccinate the older cows after the first year, but heifers and bulls should be vaccinated every year.

A trial conducted in an infected North Queensland beef herd (Fig. 1) showed that vaccination of heifers resulted in an improved pregnancy rate from 55% to 76%. A further trial comparing the vaccination of bulls only with the vaccination of both bulls and heifers demonstrated an increased pregnancy rate from 61% to 85%.

The most important cattle in a herd are usually the replacement heifers and the bulls - they are the future of the herd. The cattle most at risk from Vibriosis are the young female cattle. This is because heifers are less likely to have developed an immune response to Vibriosis than older females in the herd. While the reproductive losses are a result of the cow not delivering a calf, it is the bull that spreads the disease from one cow to another and therefore it is critical that all bulls and young female breeding cattle are vaccinated to prevent the losses associated with Vibriosis.

VIBROVAX® IS A UNIQUE VACCINE

A single dose given to cows over 18 months will confer protection against Vibriosis.
On-going vaccination of female cattle can be annually or every two years.
Oil based adjuvant helps to provide maximum level of protection.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Vibrovax® can cause site reactions, as it has an oil base adjuvant necessary for the vaccine to provide lasting protection. The site reaction will reduce and disappear over time. CSL suggest that only cattle that are to be kept for breeding be vaccinated. Supplying cattle for slaughter with site reaction lumps may result in unnecessary penalties due to carcass trimming. Vibriosis is a reproductive disease therefore vaccinating cattle planned for slaughter is an unnecessary cost.

PROFITABILITY

Vibriosis causes significant reproductive losses especially in heifers. If the entire herd is infected the losses can be even more devastating. This table can help calculate the financial benefit of implementing a Vibrovax® vaccination program.

The information contained in these pages is intended as a general guide only. Chemical products are constantly changing in formulation, strength of active ingredients, registered uses and withholding periods - ALWAYS READ THE PRODUCT LABEL CAREFULLY AND USE PRODUCTS ONLY ACCORDING TO LABEL DIRECTIONS AND ONLY ON THOSE CROPS OR USES AS SPECIFIED ON THE LABEL.