Processing cattle - be it steers or heifers at the feedyard or cows and calves at the ranch - tends to be a balancing act. On one side is the need to get cattle worked as quickly as possible, and on the other side of the spectrum is the need to administer injections correctly.

"Everybody is always trying to do more in a set period of time than is possible," explains Bill Epperson, D.V.M., Extension Veterinarian at South Dakota State University. "People have in their mind how long it should take to work cattle, including administering vaccinations, but they fail to consider cattle may balk or not work right. Then they try to make up for lost time."

Dr. Epperson emphasizes the need to work cattle calmly, as stress can reduce the efficacy of a vaccine.

"We have to remember that we're dealing with a powerful product in the animal," Dr. Epperson states. "The vaccine is going to work better in a nonstressed animal than in a stressed one.

"It doesn't matter how good the vaccine is if you don't take the time to properly administer it into a nonstressed animal."

Making up for lost time is where many processors falter and start ignoring Beef Quality Assurance guidelines.

All of a sudden people trained to follow "new" ways of administering injections are stressed and in a hurry and fall back on their "old" ways of doing things. Vaccinations that should be administered in the neck's injection site zone are hurriedly, and mistakenly, given out of the zone. Proper tenting technique for true SubQ administration is ignored.

Adding to the situation is the fact that many people who are in a hurry fail to clean the injection site of direct, mud and/or manure prior to vaccination. As a result, debris enters the site, increasing the chances of an actual abscess at the injection site.

"Vaccines are an investment," states Dr. Jim Rhoades with Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc. "Administering your vaccine correctly gives it the best opportunity to protect your animals, and provides maximum return on your vaccine investment.

"Why spend the money on quality vaccine, then reduce the efficacy of the product by not taking the time to do vaccinate properly?"

Reward Help
Beef Quality Assurance courses around the country outline BQA procedures, inform producers on the "why" behind following BQA guidelines and teach them "how" to implement the procedures. Various animal health companies supplement this with their own training and educational sessions, posters and other collateral material. But the real test comes when people are "under the gun" - when they are processing cattle, and especially when they are processing cattle under a time constraint.

To encourage workers to follow proper vaccination procedures, Dr. Tom Field of Colorado State University suggests that feedyards and cattle operators consider a reward program.

"You can either punish people who are doing things incorrectly or you can reward those who do things right," Dr. Field states. "I prefer the reward system."

Dr. Field tells about a dairy that sponsored a pizza party for all employees who were following correct vaccination techniques. The pizza party, which included immediate family members, was truly a party where individuals were acknowledged for their effort. To illustrate the role of each worker's actions in the food chain, the pizzas were made from products produced at the dairy.

Other reward ideas include, but are not limited to:

• Steak fry or hamburger cookout for employees and their families
• Gift certificate to a sporting store, restaurant
• $25 worth of long distance phone service
• Company shirt or jacket
• Tank of gas
• A half-day off with pay
• Bundle of beef

Emphasize Correct Procedures
"Sometimes, when an individual comes on board, we assume that he or she knows correct vaccination procedures because administering vaccinations were part of their previous position," Dr. Rhoades states. "But we shouldn't make that assumption.

"Every new team member should undergo vaccination administration training, and every team member should be observed on a regular basis to see that proper vaccination procedures are being followed."

And, although a lengthy explanation probably isn't necessary, workers probably need some understanding of the "why" behind the procedures. For example, they need to understand why injections should be given 3" apart, why injections should be given subcutaneously when there's a SubQ option, etc.

"Another worthwhile step is posting signage in the work area reminding individuals to follow proper vaccination procedures," Dr. Rhoades adds. "Sometimes a friendly reminder is all that is needed." ©