Sheep vaccinations

Short Cuts is series of short videos highlighting animal health issues that affect sheep carcase quality and practical tips to avoid them.

There are 8 short videos covering the following topics:

  1. Sheep Vaccination
  2. Sheep Arthritis
  3. Bruising and Injury
  4. Sheep Pneumonia and pleurisy
  5. Sheep Measles and Worms
  6. Liver Fluke
  7. Grass seeds
  8. Cheesy Gland

Vaccines are a great way to prevent and eliminate animal health issues. Selecting the right ones for your business and making sure you administer them correctly can help to prevent economic loss, disease and welfare issues in your farming business.

Check out this Short Cuts video from the Agriculture Victoria's Red Meat Value Chain team for tips on how to vaccinate with care to prevent carcase damage.

Sheep Vaccines: Short Cuts - A series of short videos highlighting animal health issues that affect sheep carcase quality and practical tips to avoid them.

Vaccines are one of our best animal health tools, but.

Only if we do them right.

Carcase damage can result when vaccination lesions occur.

A lesion can occur at the site of any vaccination.

And it will need to be cut from the carcase.

Which can result in significant trim. Costing you dollars.

But it is not all bad news.

You can reduce the likelihood and impact of lesions.

Use the right needle length for vaccine type animal age and wool length. Vaccinate where prescribed by the manufacturer.

Use good hygiene.

Change needles often.

And avoid vaccinating wet sheep.

All staff should be trained on how to deliver each vaccine correctly.

Not all vaccines are administered in the same way.

Vaccines are great, administer them correctly, and be the best sheep producer you can be.

Let's keep the shortcuts for the oven, not your farm.

Things to consider include:

  • Seek advice from your animal health professional such as a vet or consultant. Use vaccines wisely, do some partial budgets to see which ones will benefit the health of your flock and be the most cost-effective for your production system.
  • Consider the range of suppliers and treatment combinations available, seek advice if you are unsure.
  • Develop an Animal Health Plan to keep you on track for when vaccines are due and coordinate with other livestock husbandry activities such as shearing, marking, weaning etc.
  • Check the labels to ensure you use and store them correctly. Remember to keep records of what you use and when, to maintain your Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation.

Diseases of sheep that can be managed using vaccines include:

Not all vaccines are the same, different vaccines have different requirements. Incorrect vaccination techniques can damage the carcase costing you dollars. Most vaccines are administered under the skin (subcutaneous) or via a dermal scratch. Be sure to check the label to see how to administer correctly and if you are not sure seek advice. If vaccines are not given correctly it can result in loss of production, illness, injury, carcase damage animal welfare issues or death. Make sure you are using the correct technique to reduce carcase trimming and keep the valuable cuts valuable.

Vaccines are great! Administer them correctly and be the best sheep producer you can be.

Keep the Short Cuts for the oven, not the farm.

More information

Article – Vaccination lesions

Podcast – Sheep Connect NSW : Are your A & A's ready for lamb marking?

Page last updated: 10 Jan 2023