Preparing animals for their yearly vaccines

It is that time of the year when the seasons are changing from greener to dryer pastures from April to June and when producers are required to vaccinate their animals against several diseases.

According to Meatco, producers should be reminded to vaccinate all their livestock that are six months old and older to prevent anthrax, which is a notifiable disease and must be reported to the Directorate of Veterinary Services once detected.

“This together with botulism (blood sickness in animals) and Black Quarter, an acute disease which causes swelling usually in heavy muscles.”

Meatco said the common vaccines that can be administered for active immunisation against these diseases are either Supervax or the newly introduced Trio-Sure.

“Producers can choose their preferred vaccine and use it as per their prescribed dosage.”

Meatco’s technical advisor, Tjivari Kandjii, said as farmers continue loading animals for slaughter at their export abattoir, they should ensure that they adhere to the 14-day withdrawal period against the anthrax vaccine.

“I also caution that the Directorate of Veterinary Service declaration form must be correctly completed according to the last vaccination date that the animals were vaccinated,” he said.