Vaccination @ Sheep & Goats

 Importance
 Types
 Available Vaccines
 Prioritization
 Vaccination Chart
 Care & Tips
 FAQ’s
...................................................................................................................................

Compiled by :
Dr.ASHOK KUMAR VALUPADASU
Asst.Director - V&AH Dept., Govt of Telangana
Certified Livestock Advisor –Sheep (MANAGE)
8500404016 / grass2meat@gmail.com

 Sheep & Goats frequently suffer with infectious diseases under many
predisposing reasons.

 Flock productivity is decreased with diseases, thereby significant decrease in

farm profits is noticed

 Diseases causes mortality also

 The best way to deal with infectious diseases is to prevent them from occurring

 Prevention is always better than cure

 Health care is one of the 4 farming components of Sheep / Goat farming
(Other three farming components are Breed, Nutrition & Management)

 Preventive Health care (PHC) is part of Health care

 Use of specific, scientific and proactive measures to prevent future disease /

Illness or Injury is known as PHC

 PHC means taking a medicine or care before the disease develops, which helps
in prevention and control of disease

 Cost of Preventive health care is nominal /minimum

 Vaccination is part of preventive Health care
 Vaccination : 1. means administration of a Vaccine
2. is a practice of building immunity artificially against specific
Infectious diseases by injecting Vaccines

 Vaccine : 1. is a biological agent

2. is an antigenic substance prepared from the causative agent
of the disease
3. Antigenic substance is
a microorganism or virus or
( in a weakened, live or killed state)
proteins or
toxins from the organism.

 Vaccination help the immune system develop antibodies / protection from a

particular disease.

 Vaccination provides active Immunity for a specific period

 Immunity is the ability to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of

specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells

 Vaccination prevents further spread of disease

 Vaccination is like insuring
the flock
 Vaccination is a form of
risk management

 Vaccinated flocks suffer less

with infectious diseases
than non-vaccinated

 Vaccines are inexpensive

and easy to apply

 Better to apply all available

Vaccines as per Epidemic
History
 In Telangana & AP Vaccines like PPR, Pox, HS & ET are inoculated on free of
cost to all Sheep & Goats in a strategic manner ( Reg other States : data not
available )
 Vaccination is one area which looks confusing for many new entrepreneurs
( what, when & how). Many conflicts over prioritisation of Vaccination is
another issue. Because of which Vaccination is mostly neglected / unattended
 An understanding on Vaccines & on their application helps new entrepreneurs
a lot.
 Types of Vaccine
a. Vaccines are two types by antigen type: Viral & Bacterial
b. Vaccines are two types by physical status
1. Live Vaccines : Almost all Viral Vaccines are live Vaccines
( Except BT & FMD which are Inactivated/Killed) )
Ex :PPR, Pox

o Attenuated
o Freeze dried
o Dilution/reconstitution required
o Low virulent
o more fragile
o requires careful handling
o requires a single dose for achieving full immunity.

2. Killed Vaccines : Almost all Bacterial Vaccines are killed & inactivated
Vaccines

a. Inactivated Bacteria
Ex :HS, ET
b. Inactive Toxins of Bacteria ie Toxoids
Ex : TT

o Inactivated
o Ready to use type
o No dilution / reconstitution required
o requires a booster dose, 14 days after primary
vaccination for achieving full immunity
 Available Vaccines
 In India, Vaccines are not available for all diseases of Sheep & Goats
 Viral Vaccines available for the diseases of Sheep & Goat are
o PPR
o Pox
o Blue tongue
o FMD

 Bacterial Vaccines available for the diseases Sheep & Goats are
o ET
o HS
o Tetanus
o Brucellosis
o Anthrax

Prioritisation
Vaccination prioritisation depends only

a. on the contagious diseases prevalence in farming area

b. Severity of challenge

Vaccination Chart
There is no general or seasonal vaccination chart to be followed
Available schedule / Calendar of Vaccination is just suggestive and is to
understand about type of Vaccines, route of administration and interval of
Vaccination

Vaccine to be
Month Route Repeat time
applied
PPR S/C 3 Years
January Annually or as per
Pox I/D
manufacturer
April HS & ET S/C 6 months
BT S/C Annually
July
FMD I/M As per manufacturer
day of birth TT I/M Annually
Anthrax & Brucellosis Vaccination As per local Vet advise
Note : Manufacturers instructions are to be followed with reg to Age, Site
of inoculation, dose and repetition
 Care & Tips
( for effective Vaccination )

Pre-Vaccination:

1. Read the instructions issued with Vaccine by

manufacturer very carefully
2. Keep Vaccines & Diluent stored /refrigerated
between 2-8 centigrade degrees.

3. A day before, keep Syringes & needles stored

/refrigerated between 2-8 centigrade degrees.

4. Throw away freezed bacterial Vaccines

5. Do not used freezed diluents
6. Ensure source, storage and transportation care
of Vaccine

7. Ensure non-expiry of Vaccine

8. Plan vaccination as per epidemic need/urgency
9. Ensure proper deworming of flock
10. Plan for vaccination within 28 days after
deworming for effective immunity development.

11. Ensure shaded area for vaccination

12. Reconstitute Vaccine just before application

During Vaccination :
13. Ensure shade for reconstituted Vaccine also
14. Vaccinate S/G during early morning cool hours only
15. Ensure cold chain from first to last inoculation
16. Follow route of administration as indicated.
 Generally most Vaccines are injected by
SC method only. Few are by I/Dermal
& by IM
 For Subcutaneous injection
:Caudolateral neck region is preferred
or behind the elbow over the ribs or
at flank region as shown in pic
 Do not administer Vaccines over the
loin or hindquarters
17. Use prescribed size & length
needles only. Length of
needle should not be more
than 0.5 inch
18. Keep changing needles&
syringes for every 20-25 S/G

19. Needle used to withdraw

Vaccine from the bottle
should not be used for
vaccination
20. Always use sterile /
disposable Syringes and
needles.

21. Ensure to avoid

contamination of Vaccine
while drawing.

22. If Vaccine is contaminated,

discard it

23. Give exact dose as indicated

24. Ensure proper delivery of the
full dose of Vaccine

25. Dose of Vaccine is same for all

ages and all bodyweights

26. Ensure no under dosage

27. Vaccinate healthy Sheep /Goats only
28. Do not vaccinate ailing

29. Do not vaccinate adult Ewes 2-3 weeks before lambing

30. Do not vaccinate adult Ewes 2-3 weeks post delivery
31. Do not vaccinate 0-2 months age lambs/Kids

32. Vaccinate whole flock and not just individual Sheep/Goats.

33. Make sure that site of injection is dry & clean

34. Handle Sheep/Goats carefully while applying the Vaccine

35. Try to minimize any stress of handling, particularly pregnant
36. Plan to vaccinate in small groups & in tight pens so that S/G can’t run & move
here and there. Plan to vaccinate lambs first and adults later.
37. Plan to utilise Vaccine within 60 minutes after reconstitution
 Post -Vaccination :
38. Do not touch or rub the site of injection after vaccination
39. Do not wipe the injected area with disinfectant or cloth or palm
40. Do not disturb vaccinated flock 3-4 hours post vaccination
41. Discard vaccine if any balance left 60 minutes after reconstitution
42. Discard left over Vaccine by pouring in to hot/boiling water
43. Discrad used syringes and needles also by dropping in hot/boiling water

44. 14 days after vaccination observe at site of Vaccine for any lesion.
Effective application of Vaccine indicates

a. Viral Vaccines : no lesion/Mark should be observed

b. Bacterial Vaccines : a small gram sized nodule felt on palpation
c. Pox Vaccine by ID
route: Lesions/takes
should be clearly visible
in not less than 65 %
of flock

45. Faulty/Wrong inoculation :

shows abscess /Nodules
formation or subcutaneous
inflammation at site of injection
as shown in pic

46. Repetation of vaccination as per Immunity period

47. Booster dose is to be applied

14 days after first vaccination
if required

48. Booster dose for all bacterial

vaccines is must

49. Booster dose is mandatory in

lambs vaccinated first time

50. Keep record of all vaccination

activities for future reference
 Frequently Asked Questions

1. At what age lambs / Kids are to be vaccinated first time ?

Ans : at 2 months of age

2. Which vaccine is to be applied first time to lambs / Kids ?

Ans : ET followed by HS

3. What should be the minimum gap between two subsequent vaccinations ?

Ans : 14 days

4. Till what age Sheep / Goats are to be vaccinated ?

Ans : as long as they are in the farm

5. Is deworming mandatory before vaccination ?

Ans : Yes. Vaccine is to be applied between 4th – 28 th day post deworming

6. Should all available Vaccines be applied to Sheep & Goats ?

Ans : Not necessary. Vaccination should be as per infection threat in farming
Area

7. Can two vaccines be applied at a time ?

Ans : Generally “No”. But in emergency – Yes. In such case ensure to prevent
stress on animals with proper care

8. What are the reasons for failure of vaccination ?

Ans : a. Break of cold chain between point of manufacture to inoculation
b. Faulty reconstitution
c. Contamination of vaccine during vaccination
d. Under dosage
e. Vaccinating Sick animals
f. Worm load

9. If Pox lesions/takes do not appear under I/D ear inoculations of Pox vaccine,
should vaccine be inoculated again ?
Ans : Yes. If Pox lesions/takes do not appear in not less than 65% of flock
between 7-21 days post vaccination, Vaccine is to be applied again

10. Shall vaccine be applied in Outbreak flock ?

Ans : a. All ailing and sick are to be separated from flock
b. Healthy Sheep & Goats only shall be vaccinated.
c. S/G in incubation may not respond for Vaccine .
d. Hence a close watch post-vaccination till 14-21 days is mandatory to
identify symptomatic
f. If no new cases are found within 14-21 days,it shall be treated as S/G
are protected & safe