The timing of respiratory vaccination relative to high-risk events is critical to achieving protective immunity before cattle face their greatest disease challenge.
Vaccination timing is as important as vaccine selection in preventing respiratory disease. Cattle vaccinated too close to stressful events - or during stress - develop suboptimal immune responses and may not be protected when disease pressure is greatest. Strategic pre-event vaccination that allows full immune development before the high-risk period is both an economic and welfare imperative. Operations that pre-condition calves with vaccination, nutrition, and health management before sale or feedlot entry deliver significantly better welfare and health outcomes for receiving operations.