Ever wonder why calves struggle a bit after vaccination? The culprit might be hidden in plain sight: endotoxin load.
Dr. Brett Terhaar, Beef Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health, dives deep into this often-overlooked aspect of cattle vaccination protocols. He explains that gram-negative bacterial vaccines—those used for respiratory diseases, pinkeye, and other common cattle ailments—naturally contain endotoxins that signal the immune system. While some immune stimulation is necessary, the cumulative effect of multiple vaccines administered simultaneously can overwhelm calves, especially during already stressful periods like weaning.
The discussion takes a fascinating turn when Dr. Terhaar introduces his "basketball analogy" to explain breakthrough vaccine technology. Traditional vaccines deliver the entire "basketball" (bacteria with endotoxin-containing cell walls) to the calf. The innovative approach shaves off just the "dimples" (surface antigens) while leaving behind most of the endotoxin-containing material. This revolutionary manufacturing process reduces endotoxin levels from the typical 50,000-120,000 units found in conventional vaccines to approximately 1,500 units—a dramatic decrease that allows producers to maintain protective immunity without the negative side effects.
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