The 2016 World Dairy Expo was the perfect venue for Merck Animal Health to debut their BOVILIS® CORONAVIRUS, the 1st USDA-approved modified-live intranasal vaccine to aid in reduction of enteric disease caused by Bovine Coronavirus (BCV).
BCV is commonly transferred by animals during periods of stress, including shipping, parturition, cold weather, commingling or delivery to a backgrounding facility or feedyard. Scours and winter dysentery are often the two signs that will signal the presence of BCV. A 2012 study at the University of Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratory tested 147 herds and found nearly half (49.4 percent) of the herds to be positive for BCV. In related research at Oklahoma State University, 37 percent of BCV cases are found in calves zero to 30-days old.
Scott Nordstrom, D.V.M., Merck Animal Health, was on hand during the Expo to share more about the new vaccine. “Bovine coronavirus is far more prevalent than producers realize and, thus, the need to vaccinate is vitally important. When used as part of a complete vaccination protocol, BOVILIS CORONAVIRUS delivers protection against the enteric signs of bovine coronavirus and is a critical component in improving the overall health of cattle on an operation.”
Dr. Nordstrom said BOVILIS CORONAVIRUS the intranasal vaccine can be given from birth on. As a modified-live vaccine, it creates it’s own active immunity. “It can be given prior to when we see the disease in calves. Which is usually between zero and fours weeks of age.”
In the past the only way to protect calves was to vaccinate the dams, but now Dr. Nordstrom said, “We are not only able to vaccinate the dams to provided colostrum with antibodies for it, but we can immunize the calves by giving them this product.”
Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Nordstrom to learn about diagnostic signs and the importance of working with your local veterinarian. Interview with Dr. Scott Nordstrom, Merck Animal Health
View and download photos from the event here: 2016 World Dairy Expo Photo Album.
