Cattle Vaccination Schedule: Complete Age-by-Age Guide

Why a Systematic Vaccination Protocol Matters

Ad hoc vaccination — giving whatever you have on hand when you remember — is not a vaccine program. Effective herd immunity requires the right vaccines, given at the right time, with the right handling and storage. A well-designed protocol costs roughly $15 to $30 per head per year and can prevent diseases that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per animal to treat, or that kill animals outright.

Work with your veterinarian to develop a program tailored to your region, production system, and risk factors. Disease pressure in the Texas Panhandle is different from that in western Kentucky. The following schedule is a general framework based on best practices for cow-calf operations — treat it as a starting point, not a final prescription.

Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines: Understanding the Difference

Core vaccines are recommended for virtually all cattle regardless of location, because the diseases they prevent are widespread, severe, and well-controlled by available vaccines:

• IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis) — caused by Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1)
• BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea) — Types 1 and 2
• BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
• PI3 (Parainfluenza-3 Virus)
• Clostridial diseases (blackleg, malignant edema, enterotoxemia — usually a 7- or 8-way product)

Non-core vaccines are given based on regional disease risk, production system, or specific herd history:

• Brucellosis (calfhood vaccination — required for interstate movement in many states)
• Leptospirosis (5-way Lepto)
• Campylobacteriosis (Vibriosis)
• Haemophilus somni (Histophilus somni)
• Bovine Coronavirus
• Pinkeye (Moraxella bovis)
• Rotavirus and Coronavirus scours vaccines (for cows pre-calving)

Calves: Birth to 6 Months

Birth to 2 Weeks

• No vaccines recommended at birth — maternal antibodies from colostrum will block most vaccine antigens. Ensure the calf receives adequate colostrum within the first 6 hours of life. This is the single most important health intervention for a newborn calf.
• Intranasal IBR/PI3 vaccines (modified-live, intranasal) can be given at birth or within the first few days because they stimulate local mucosal immunity that is not blocked by maternal antibodies. Some producers in high-respiratory disease environments use these routinely.

2 to 3 Months (First Calfhood Vaccinations)

• 7-way or 8-way Clostridial vaccine — first dose. Blackleg alone kills calves in this age range.
• IBR/BVD/BRSV/PI3 (4-way MLV) — can be given at this point, though maternal antibodies may still interfere. Some programs wait until branding (2–4 months) to combine with other procedures.
• Brucellosis (calfhood vaccination) — heifers only, must be administered by a licensed vet or accredited veterinarian, must be between 4 and 12 months of age. Check your state's requirements.

4 to 6 Months (Branding / Pre-Weaning)

• 7-way Clostridial booster — critical. A single dose of clostridial vaccine without a booster gives inadequate protection.
• 4-way viral respiratory vaccine (IBR/BVD/BRSV/PI3) — if not given at 2–3 months, give now. If given earlier, give a booster.
• Deworming (anthelmintic) — not a vaccine, but typically administered at this time. Parasite burden suppresses immune response.

Weaning (6 to 8 Months)

Weaning is the highest-stress event in a calf's life and the highest-risk period for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Vaccination at least 3 to 4 weeks before weaning, rather than at weaning, gives time for immunity to develop before the stress hits.

• 4-way viral respiratory vaccine — booster at least 2–3 weeks pre-weaning if not recently done.
• Clostridial vaccine — booster if not given within 4 months.
• Leptospirosis — first dose if not previously vaccinated; requires a booster 2–4 weeks later.
• Pinkeye vaccine — in herds with a history of pink eye, give 2–4 weeks before fly season.

Replacement Heifers (8 to 14 Months)

Heifers being developed for breeding need a complete vaccination history before joining the breeding herd. Target the following 30 to 60 days before breeding:

• Complete viral respiratory series (confirm IBR/BVD status — BVD in pregnant heifers causes significant reproductive failure)
• Leptospirosis — annual booster
• Vibriosis (Campylobacter fetus) — if bulls are being used and not tested/vaccinated
• Brucellosis calfhood tag confirmation

Cows: Annual Herd Vaccination Program

Pre-Breeding (30 to 60 Days Before Breeding)

• 4-way viral respiratory (IBR/BVD/BRSV/PI3) — killed vaccine only if there is any chance of pregnancy. Modified-live BVD vaccines cause fetal death and PI (Persistently Infected) calves in pregnant cows.
• Leptospirosis booster
• Vibriosis booster

Pre-Calving (4 to 6 Weeks Before Expected Calving)

• Scours vaccine (Rotavirus/Coronavirus/E. coli/Salmonella) — stimulates antibody concentrations in colostrum. Must be given pre-calving to protect the newborn calf through colostrum consumption. Highly recommended in cow-calf herds.
• Clostridial booster (7-way or 8-way) — annual booster for the cow, also concentrates protective antibodies in colostrum.

Bulls: Annual Protocol

• Full viral respiratory booster (IBR/BVD/BRSV/PI3) — killed product preferred near breeding season
• Leptospirosis booster
• Vibriosis — annual if natural service; bulls are a significant reservoir
• Clostridial booster
• Breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) — annually, 30–60 days before turnout

Vaccine Handling: Where Most Programs Fail

A properly designed vaccine protocol is only as good as the handling of the vaccines. Common failures:

• Improper temperature storage — vaccines must be kept between 35°F and 45°F. Freezing killed vaccines destroys them. Heat destroys modified-live vaccines within minutes.
• Sun exposure — MLV vaccines exposed to direct sunlight for even a few minutes lose efficacy rapidly.
• Mixing too early — MLV vaccines are supplied as a powder to be reconstituted. Mix only what you can use within one hour.
• Dirty needles — change needles regularly (every 10–15 head) and never leave a needle in the bottle between uses.
• Wrong injection site — most vaccines go subcutaneous (SQ) in the neck, not intramuscular in the rump. Check label directions every time.