MSD Animal Health has launched a live BRD vaccine for early life intranasal administration to dairy and beef calves from one week of age.
New Bovilis intranasal RSP live reduces the clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Parainfluenza-3 Virus (Pi3V). No other UK-licensed BRD vaccine can be administered earlier in life. The new vaccine also delivers the fastest on-farm protection, with an onset of immunity after administration of just 5 days for BRSV and 7 days for Pi3V. Duration of immunity is 12 weeks for both viruses.
“Early-age protection of calves through intranasal vaccination can help prevent pneumonia and positively impact a calf’s productive future,” said MSD Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith MRCVS.
“The sooner and faster these young calves can be protected against viral BRD and the permanent lung damage it causes, the better their potential lifetime productivity, be it in terms of delivering expected milk yield in the dairy herd or growth performance on the beef unit.”
Dr Baxter-Smith added that Bovilis intranasal RSP live also activates non-specific immunity – stimulating receptors and cytokines in the innate immune system. “This equates to protection against viral replication in the nasopharyngeal cavity, reduction of virus shedding and protection of the calf against subsequent clinical symptoms.” she said.
Bovilis intranasal RSP live has practical usage benefits for farmers too and can be used on farm up to six hours after mixing with the solvent, which is the longest of all the available intranasal BRD vaccines.
Additionally, the new vaccine is supplied as a farm-friendly, easy-to administer nasal suspension product that doesn’t need a specific applicator – although for maximum flexibility a new easy-clean injector and nozzle kit is available for farmers needing to vaccinate multiple animals.
