Guardian®, like ScourGuard® 3(k)C and Scour Bos® 9 is administered to pregnant heifers and cows. It stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies, immune cells and other immune factors that the mothers (dams) pass to their calves in colostrum. So, calves gain scours immunity as soon as they ingest colostrum. But the calves’ ability to absorb those antibodies is limited to the first 12-24 hours of life, which means it’s important that baby calves ingest adequate amounts (four quarts for dairy calves) of colostrum as soon as possible after birth.
The table below shows the difference in vaccination routines for Guardian, ScourGuard, and Scour Bos. The first time cattle are vaccinated with Guardian, two doses are recommended. In subsequent pregnancies, a single dose is all that’s needed.
| |
Guardian |
ScourGuard* 3(k)C |
Scour Bos 9** |
| First Dose |
12 weeks precalving |
6-8 weeks precalving |
8-16 weeks precalving |
| Second Dose |
6-9 weeks precalving |
2-3 weeks precalving |
4 weeks precalving |
* Third dose may be required
**
Second dose is Scour Bos 4 |
For first-time vaccinates, the initial dose of Guardian can be given three months prior to calving, offering producers an important opportunity to complete processing 30 days sooner than if using ScourGuard. The second Guardian dose, given at about eight weeks before calving, is even more important, since competitive products must be given more than a month later, within two to four weeks of calving. Handling cattle in late pregnancy is stressful and increases the risk of abortion.
The Guardian schedule also means that dairy cows receive their second dose at dry-off, so they don’t have to be processed again after dry treatment. The ScourGuard second dose is too close to calving to be risk-free or convenient. Also, if dams calve late, a third dose of ScourGuard is recommended; a third dose of Guardian is never needed.
In dairies, the greater flexibility of the Guardian dosing schedule makes it convenient to incorporate into nearly any dry cow management scheme, eliminating the need for any extra handling of cows that is stressful, especially near calving time.
Scour Bos 9 appears to have a convenient dosing schedule, but the second dose is with a different vaccine and is given much closer to calving. This forces the producer to stock and keep track of two products instead of one, not to mention the risks of handling at this time.
Of the three products mentioned here, only Guardian is labeled for subcutaneous administration, the route recommended by Beef Quality Assurance guidelines.
|
