Calves this winter can now get an extra dose of protection. Merck Animal Health recently announced the launch of BOVILIS CORONAVIRUS, the first USDA-approved modified-live intranasal vaccine to aid in reduction of enteric disease caused by Bovine Coronavirus (BCV).
Most severe during winter months, BCV is often prevalent in dairy calves and cow/calf beef herds, and is frequently diagnosed as the leading pathogen in neonatal calves. This intranasal vaccine is approved for use in calves as young as 3 days of age.
BCV is commonly transferred by animals during periods of stress, including shipping, parturition, cold weather, and commingling. 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.
“Bovine coronavirus is far more prevalent than producers realize and, thus, the need to vaccinate is vitally important,” says Scott Nordstrom, D.V.M., Merck Animal Health in a recent release. “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.”
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