Re: [Alpacasite] Anyone giving BVD vaccine?

Chris, what "research" are your referring to ("From my research, only
a small percentage of PI calves attain this, a greater percentage
dies before one year)".

Or is it reading. There is a HUGE difference.

Steve H.

At 08:18 PM 12/10/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Steve,
>
>I'ld like to go a step further on the BVD with you. I disagree with
>"PI cows can live & reproduce for many years." From my research,
>only a small percentage of PI calves attain this, a greater
>percentage dies before one year. Unfortunately, PI calves are a
>permanent carrier of the virus and shed the virus thru tears,
>saliva, urine & feces. To be PI, cattle were infected
>(approximately) between 40 to 120 days of gestation. Cows infected
>later in gestation are not PI, but may be born with other
>defects. Thousands of viruses are shed from a PI animal and
>easily. It might have been Dr. Carr that wrote about taking extra
>care & biosecurity measures on our farms and reminded us the
>importance of hand washing and cleaning your boots between pastures & farms.
>
>I don't have the new Dr. Evans' book. If you have time, could you
>summarize what he has updated about BVD for me?
>
>Neil wondered about vaccines. ARF is studying this and it looks
>like we should remain on the conservative side at this time. There
>are killed virus and modified life virus formulas for cattle, but we
>don't have enough information regarding alpacas. Personally, I
>hope to not add another vaccine to our alpacas. Plus, the modified
>life vaccine can only be used in healthy, nonpregnant cattle. I
>believe with proper testing and definitely testing cria that die,
>biosecurity, etc., we can keep a handle on this disease. From the
>information that I've read, it can't be stressed enough to test cria
>that died. It's been noted that alpacas can be easy aborters &
>we've all heard about a "poor doer" cria. Until we test, we can't
>be 100% sure that BVD wasn't involved. I wonder, shouldn't we
>include aborted fetuses for testing too?
>
>I plan to start testing with my 2006 cria. There are a handful of
>tests available to us to determine the antibodies, viral RNA/viral
>antigens. The Alpacas Magazine explained them clearly; virus
>isolation, PCR, ELISA, IHC. The tests appear to be reliable, BVD is
>a virus, will replicate nicely in the ole' culture dish and if we're
>concerned about a false positive, just repeat the test. A small
>percentage of animals acutely infected, but not PI, may give false
>positive results for a period post acute infection. I honestly feel
>that we should test next year and also test the gals coming here for
>breeding. I'm not in a panic over this, I haven't had any animals
>that show clinical signs, no poor doers, no lower birth weights,
>etc. To me, testing is security. And I wouldn't be surprised if
>testing becomes a requirement on our show/health certificates in the future.
>
>Well guys, hope I haven't bored you to tears. Good luck with your
>cria Steve :)
>Enjoy the weekend,
>Chris
>
>Chris Mills
>Outback Alpacas
>507 Peck Rd.
>Spencerport, NY 14559
>585.392.3639
>kusisqa@rochester.rr.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: sprucealpacas@aol.com
> To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [Alpacasite] Anyone giving BVD vaccine?
>
>
>
>
> Neil
> Unless you have tested your herd, I don't think you can make the
> statement
> "No BVD here." It is a fallacy that all PI crias are sick. A PI
> cria born on
> our farm in September is almost 3 months old now (no longer on
> my farm but
> at a horse farm where it can be studied) and she is the "picture
> of health".
> Never had diarrhea or a temperature, never lethargic;
> races around the field
> like a race horse. It is only because another cria was sick
> that we tested
> the herd for BVD and identified this girl as PI. PI cows can live and
> reproduce for many years.
>
> You refer to shows as your exposure risk. There are many ways to be
> exposed. Probably the best is outside breedings, especially when
> a cria is at side.
>
> As far as vaccines, Dr Evans has been vaccinating herds for
> years. See page
> 120 of his new book. He first identified BVD in 1988
>
>
>
> Steve McCarthy
> Spruce Ridge Farm
> Old Chatham, NY
> www.spruceridgefarm.com
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/9/2005 10:14:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> mpcpneilp@aol.com writes:
>
> Since we are on the topic of vaccines, here's a question for the list.
>
> I've been asked off-list twice in the last week if I am giving BVD
> vaccine. I'm not, at least not yet.
>
> Fortunately, since I'm still in the process of building facilities at
> our new farm I haven't been to a show since MAPACA. No BVD here! I
> don't have to worry about BVD again until March, when I hope to have
> the new farm finished, be moved in, and have the time to show again.
>
> So, the question is, who out there is using BVD vaccine. What is your
> experience? Does the vaccine provide any protection in alpacas? Any
> adverse reactions to the vaccine?
>
> Neil
> A Paca Fun Farm
> Mt. Airy, Maryland
> Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
> www.apacafunfarm.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Steve . . . .

TimberLake Farms, Inc.
Tom Cameron, D.V.M. & Steve Hull, Ph.D.
Edmond, Oklahoma

A Full Service Alpaca Farm Including Seminars And Consulting

www.timberlakefarms.net

e-mails: mailto:steve@timberlakefarms.net
mailto:tom@timberlakefarms.net

Farm Telephone: 405 341-8444
Farm Cell Telephone: 405 550-3023
Farm Fax: 405 330-8444

note: opinions made here are not and cannot be construed to be
specific veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatments. Both Tom and
Steve strongly suggest always checking with your own veterinarian.

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