Response to Tetanus shots for Lambs--Docking & Castrating

Jonathan, we have no choice but to use vaccinations. Tetanus is a killer here in the south. It has nothing to do with management, it is airborn. If you don't vaccinated you will loose stock, here. The point of management is to be consistent. If you vaccinate your ewe's with a CD&T (2cc under the skin) about 3 weeks before they kid, you will then boost her colostrum's anitbiodies, and her kids will have these naturally accuring antibiodies in their system. If you have not vaccinated the ewe, then you can give Tetanus Antitoxin (it comes in 1500 unit vials, and is 3 shots) this will give your babies immediate protection from Tetanus, you will at the same time give CD&T, this T for Tetanus is a Toxoid, which takes about 2 weeks to build up immunity, on the other side as a second shot. The CD&T is then given as a booster 21 days later, same 2cc shot, same subQ. If you use 3cc syringes, with 22 gauge by 1" is what I use, you will pull up the skin, like a pinch, and then give the shot under this tent of skin you form with the pinch. Always aspirate (pull back on the plunger) before you give the shot, if you have blood in the syringe just go to another site. Good luck with you sheep...Vicki

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